COLUMBIA: The former trade unionist who was elected mayor of Bogota this weekend, Mr Luis Eduardo Garzon, promised "no triumphalism and no arrogance" as electoral authorities yesterday confirmed the historic shift in Colombia's two-party system which has resisted intruders for 180 years.
In his victory speech Mr Garzon, whose Independent Democratic Alliance secured 47 per cent of votes, recalled fallen comrades Carlos Pizarro and Bernardo Jaramillo, former presidential candidates assassinated by right-wing conservatives.
"They know how we have fought to open up a space without harming anyone, relying only on our ideas," said Mr Garzon. A former golf caddy and carpenter, Mr Garzon has won friends across the political spectrum, permitting a long overdue breakthrough in a country where left-wing politics has traditionally been a short cut to the nearest graveyard.
Mr Garzon himself was forced into exile in 1998 and the greatest obstacle to his future presidential hopes may well be the threat of assassination. The new mayor has pledged to reduce water charges and declare "a social emergency" in the city's poorest districts, raising funds for health and education through a clampdown on tax evasion.
He invited defeated mayoral candidates to join his cabinet and demanded that FARC rebels release Ms Ingrid Betancourt, the former presidential candidate kidnapped in February 2003.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe remained silent after a weekend in which a crucial 15-point referendum, flagged as vital to fight terrorism and boost the faltering economy, was roundly defeated by voters.
In Saturday's referendum the government failed to obtain enough votes to pass 11 of the 15 points on the ballot despite a relentless government campaign in which opponents of the reform package were deemed soft on terrorism.
In his victory speech Mr Garzon criticised President Uribe's aggressive referendum campaign, comparing it to "a bunch of football hooligans trying to start a riot".
Voter turnout for Sunday's regional election ballot was double that of the unpopular referendum, sending a strong signal to President Uribe who plans tax hikes and labour reforms to raise cash for his war on FARC rebels.
Meanwhile the regional elections returned dozens of candidates running on anti-Uribe platforms although the traditional liberal and conservative parties retained overall control of most districts.