Colombian President plays peace deal card in re-election bid

(Vatican Radio) Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos who's seeking re-election on May 25th, is comfortably ahead in a poll just out, which shows most Colombians are carefully watching the peace process.


Listen to the report by regional correspondent James Blears...


The poll shows that President Juan Manuel Santos has 26 percent of support, which is seventeen points ahead of his nearest rival.

Significantly, 39 percent of those who participated in this poll, agree that the current peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia- the FARC, are the best way to end the five decade long conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, and displaced millions of people.

The talks started back in November 2012. Since then only the issues of land reform and political particiption have been agreed and concluded. Disarmament, illegal narcotics, rights of the conflict's victims, as well as the mechanics of the peace deal and its implimentation, still haven't been finalized.

The Government steadfastly refuses a ceasefire with the FARC, determined to maintain pressure. This is the fourth and most serious attempt at peace in the last 30 years.