Misión de Observación Electoral MOE is one of several organisations and institutions trying to keep an eye on the electoral process. MOE does this better than any public institution, simply because it is not corrupt, and it has little to gain by silence or deceit. During elections MOE observers also include a number of accredited international observers.* MOE now warns that the floods might increase the risk of fraud in the upcoming elections.
The local and regional elections in October will have more than 70 000 candidates. All of these will need to have their campaigns financed in one way or another. It is an impossible task to follow closely so many candidates, and from previous elections we know that even open and documented buying of votes remains impune. It is frustrating to listen to politicians defending their own violations of electoral legislation – but they do! According to the US embassy (Wikileaks!) ex-president Uribe did this quite on purpose in order to provoke the opposition and to be able to play the "victim card".
Back to the financing. In the 2010 elections for congress it turned out to be impossible to trace the amount, origin and use of campaign money. Although candidates are obliged to keep books on this, and to make them public, few do so. And usually there are no sanctions, as there are no legal instruments to follow up. Now, almost a year after the parliamentary elections in 2010 campaign finances have not yet been declared. I doubt that it will ever happen.
Candidates buy and sell. They sell alliances and promised contracts, in order go get sponsor money by which to buy votes so that they can fulfill their promises.
Floods and landslides have created a huge market for relief and reconstruction. Now, as candidates appear and election campaigns start, the government and NGOs are beginning to take action, having earmarked billions of pesos to solve some of the most urgent problems. Local candidates try to convince selected local contractors that they are the best to channel provide them with contracts - once they are elected mayors or council members. There are many bridges, schools, roads to rebuild - and many new 4-year service contracts to sign in the autumn. Thus, contractors gladly contribute to campaigns ... and very often they support candidates from opposing parties!
The floods and landslides October 2010 to January 2011 have resulted in millions of displaced Colombians. Their houses, schools, roads - complete villages were destroyed. They now live in terrible conditions, in plastic shelters, without access to clean water or sanitation, with very poor access to schools and health services. Poor, desperate people are easy victims of promises, and especially if these are accompanied by money or rewards in kind, 20 000 pesos [12 USD] or a bag of groceries would easily produce a vote.
* I have been among the international observers in Colombia since the elections in 2007, representing the GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament.
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