Social National Unity Party
Encyclopedia
The Social Party of National Unity , or Party of the U is a liberal conservative
political party
in Colombia
. It attempts to unite various parliamentary supporters of Álvaro Uribe
, the Uribistas, in one political party. Currently it is Colombia's largest political party.
Security is the top priority of most Uribistas, followed by employment and investment in Colombia. Uribistas also support lower taxes for private companies and for citizens. Also, they are a radical opposition to current president of Venezuela Hugo Chávez
and to the Bolivarian movement that Chavez leads in different countries of Latin America
.
Party of the U is led by Juan Manuel Santos
and Oscar Iván Zuluaga. Most members of the movement left the Colombian Liberal Party
but they didn't succeed in uniting all Uribistas: in particular the Radical Change (Cambio Radical) didn't join.
The party took part in the parliamentary elections
of 2006, in which it won 30 out of 166 deputies and 20 out of 100 senators.
The party, along with Cambio Radical, were the first to investigate the relation between some candidates and paramilitary forces. After investigating, many candidates were fired from the party and weren't supported by it. Most of these candidates joined minor parties, and were elected as congressmen.
In 2009, more than half of the congressmen from the Radical Change Party switched to Party of the U, so the party became Colombia's largest.
For 2010 presidential elections, Party of the U chose former defense minister Juan Manuel Santos as presidential candidate and syndicalist Angelino Garzon as vicepresidential candidate. They have obtained support from an important sector of the Colombian Conservative Party
.
On March 14, 2010, congressional elections were held. Party of the U obtained 27 seats in senate, seven more than in 2006.
On June 20, 2010, Colombia
elected for the first time in their history a member of the Party of the U to the Presidency of Colombia
, that being Juan Manuel Santos
.
The Social Party of National Unity supports the development of a welfare state and recognizes the family as base of society. It also recognizes and approves globalization, emphasizing education, science and technology as opportunities that can help Colombia succeed in a global market. The party supports decentralization and autonomy of regions. Currently, the Caribbean Region is the first to begin the process to obtain more autonomy.
For "uribistas", security is the first duty of the State. Without security, social programs can't be successful in rural areas controlled by narcoterrorist groups. The concept of Democratic Security, the main axis of Uribe's government, consists of bringing security to different social sectors, including ethnic minorities, journalists, labor unions and regional politicians.
The concept of "Communitarian State" is another important ideological pillar for the party. It emphasizes the development of communities, in order to bring stability to the whole state. The state brings development to marginalized communities while private companies focus on the economy, providing additional products and services.
The Party has a strong think-tank called Security and Democracy Foundation (Fundación Seguridad y Democracia) directed by Alfredo Rangel, which analyzes security in the different countries of Latin America.
The party leader has also claimed that he supports Tony Blair's Third Way
approach.
Liberal conservatism
Liberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. It attempts to unite various parliamentary supporters of Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
, the Uribistas, in one political party. Currently it is Colombia's largest political party.
Security is the top priority of most Uribistas, followed by employment and investment in Colombia. Uribistas also support lower taxes for private companies and for citizens. Also, they are a radical opposition to current president of Venezuela Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
and to the Bolivarian movement that Chavez leads in different countries of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
Party of the U is led by Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...
and Oscar Iván Zuluaga. Most members of the movement left the Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
but they didn't succeed in uniting all Uribistas: in particular the Radical Change (Cambio Radical) didn't join.
The party took part in the parliamentary elections
Colombian legislative election, 2006
On March 12, 2006 Colombians went to the polls to elect Senate and Chamber of Representatives. Presidential primaries were also held for the Liberal Party and the Alternative Democratic Pole.-Senate Members:...
of 2006, in which it won 30 out of 166 deputies and 20 out of 100 senators.
The party, along with Cambio Radical, were the first to investigate the relation between some candidates and paramilitary forces. After investigating, many candidates were fired from the party and weren't supported by it. Most of these candidates joined minor parties, and were elected as congressmen.
In 2009, more than half of the congressmen from the Radical Change Party switched to Party of the U, so the party became Colombia's largest.
For 2010 presidential elections, Party of the U chose former defense minister Juan Manuel Santos as presidential candidate and syndicalist Angelino Garzon as vicepresidential candidate. They have obtained support from an important sector of the Colombian Conservative Party
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
.
On March 14, 2010, congressional elections were held. Party of the U obtained 27 seats in senate, seven more than in 2006.
On June 20, 2010, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
elected for the first time in their history a member of the Party of the U to the Presidency of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
, that being Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...
.
Ideological platform
The Programatic Declaration (Declaración Programática) is the official ideological platform of the party.The Social Party of National Unity supports the development of a welfare state and recognizes the family as base of society. It also recognizes and approves globalization, emphasizing education, science and technology as opportunities that can help Colombia succeed in a global market. The party supports decentralization and autonomy of regions. Currently, the Caribbean Region is the first to begin the process to obtain more autonomy.
For "uribistas", security is the first duty of the State. Without security, social programs can't be successful in rural areas controlled by narcoterrorist groups. The concept of Democratic Security, the main axis of Uribe's government, consists of bringing security to different social sectors, including ethnic minorities, journalists, labor unions and regional politicians.
The concept of "Communitarian State" is another important ideological pillar for the party. It emphasizes the development of communities, in order to bring stability to the whole state. The state brings development to marginalized communities while private companies focus on the economy, providing additional products and services.
The Party has a strong think-tank called Security and Democracy Foundation (Fundación Seguridad y Democracia) directed by Alfredo Rangel, which analyzes security in the different countries of Latin America.
The party leader has also claimed that he supports Tony Blair's Third Way
Third way (centrism)
The Third Way refers to various political positions which try to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics by advocating a varying synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. Third Way approaches are commonly viewed from within the first- and second-way perspectives as...
approach.
Founding members
- Luis Guillermo VélezLuís Guillermo VélezLuis Guillermo Vélez Trujillo was a Colombian lawyer, economist, and politician who served as Senator of Colombia, ambassador of Colombia to El Salvador and the Kingdom of Norway, and Minister Plenipotentiary of Colombia to the United States.-Life:Vélez Trujillo was born on June 17, 1943 in...
- Aurelio Irragori
- Carlos García Orjuela
- Dilian Francisca ToroDilian Francisca ToroDilian Francisca Toro Torres MD is a Colombian doctor and politician serving as Senator of Colombia. As Senator, Toro was elected President of the Congress of Colombia becoming only the second woman to do so.-Personal life:...
- Eduardo Benítez
- Alfonso Angarita
- Sergio Díaz Granados
- José Name TeránJosé Name TeránJosé Antonio Name Terán was a lawyer and former Senator of Colombia. Considered a Liberal caudillo, he was one of the longest serving senators in Congress and one of the most influential politicians of the Caribbean Region of Colombia...
- Miguel Amín
- Mauricio PimientoMauricio PimientoMauricio Pimiento Barrera is a Colombian politician, former Senator of Colombia. Pimiento was arrested on February 16, 2007 after being involved in the Para-political scandal...
- Carlos Enrique Soto
- Zulema Jattin
- Luis Antonio Serrano
- Ricardo Arias Mora
- Jairo Merlano
- Manuel Enrique Rosero
- Piedad Zucardi
- Flor Gnecco
- Carlos Augusto Celis
- María Isabel Mejía
- Juan Manuel SantosJuan Manuel SantosJuan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...