Indecisión 2010

Yes, that joke is stolen directly from the Daily Show. Colombia's first round of the presidential elections were held yesterday; Santos (former defense minister under Uribe) won the first round with 47% of the vote, but didn't achieve the plurality needed to secure a first round victory. The next four years will be decided in the second round, to be held June 20th. In the meantime, pretty pictures!

The Plaza Bolívar, one of the polling places in the center of the city.

The Congress building, with more than its fair share of pigeons.

A group of protesters who have been camped out in the Plaza for around 3 weeks now, if not longer. Their grievance with the government (and the mainstream media) is the injustice and impunity that they feel characterizes the current political establishment. The sign reads, "In Colombia there is a hunger for Justice, a hunger for Conscience. They have always kept we Colombians in a hunger strike. No more inequality of information, no more manipulated polls."

Two of the protesters, chained together with tape over their mouths, shielding themselves from the morning sun's rays and the afternoon downpour.

Simon Bolívar looks on, under a Colombian flag. Symbolism much?

Electoral process.

One of Bogotá's finest... One of the reserve police officers currently serving his mandatory term.

Electoral process, pt. 2.

Pre-voting day instructions, widely publicized, stringently directed everyone to leave non-voting persons (i.e., kids) at home. Colombians are, however, not very good at following instructions. Especially if those instructions involve leaving family members at home.

Rafael Pardo, presidential candidate from the Liberal Party, showed up to vote. He managed to win 4.4% percent of the vote last night, or a little over 600,000.

A litle video I put together of Rafael Pardo and his supporters.

Another of Pardo.

A good side-view of the candidate.

Send lawyers, guns and money,
J.