Three out of eight candidates have led voters’ intentions to replace Claudia López as mayor of Bogotá (Colombia’s capital) in elections scheduled for October 29, Colombian authorities reported, BN Americas reported on September 4.
In the latest TYSE poll, Gustavo Bolívar leads with around 15% support, followed by Juan Daniel Oviedo with 12% and Juan Fernando Galán with 11%.
Of those surveyed in Colombia’s capital of 8 million people, 37% said they were undecided. Among the key issues in the race are the $2.7 billion Bogota Metro Line 1 and the so-called Seventh Avenue Green Corridor, a $617 million project.
Bolívar, a former senator backed by the ruling Pacto Histórico party, has chosen the fight against crime as one of his main proposals. He also believes the metro line is technically impossible unless it is built partially underground, a move supported by President Gustavo Petro.
He also disapproves of the green corridor project, which has already been tendered, because he considers it economically unfeasible and believes that a tram is the best solution.
Bolívar also proposes to “decentralize” citizen access to Transmilenio public transport services to avoid overcrowding.
Juan Daniel Oviedo, an independent candidate, will seek to improve the city’s road infrastructure, create educational programs and increase employment.
According to him, the metro line project should not be politicized as, according to him, it is financially viable and should be modernized.
Regarding the green corridor, Oviedo believes that there are problems with the main public transport system, as well as plans to reduce traffic during the works, something that he would like to change.
Juan Fernando Galán, a former Bogotá councilman and a Nuevo Liberal candidate, said he would fight crime and strive to create a city free of poverty and hunger.
He considers that the first metro line should be finished in the way it was built, without changes, respecting the institutional framework. It also plans to make adjustments to the greenway project to accommodate mixed traffic from southbound 92nd Street.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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