The ruling coalition, led by Santos’ Party of the U and the Liberal Party, today holds 52 out of 102 seats in the Senate, and 99 of 166 seats in the House of Representatives. The Democratic Center and Conservative Party together hold 38 Senate seats and 46 House ones.
Colombia’s FARC political party, made up of former members of the rebel group, will field 74 candidates in legislative elections in March, in a bid to win more than 10 seats guaranteed it in a peace deal with the government.
Of the 74 candidates for the party is backing, 23 are running for Senate seats and 51 for the lower house. Long-time rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, is the party’s candidate for presidential elections in May.
Sources and Further Reading:
Elections 2018, Government of Colombia
https://www.registraduria.gov.co/?page=Elecciones_2018
Explainer: Colombia’s 2018 Election, Americas Society / Council of the Americas
http://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-colombias-2018-elections
Colombia’s FARC to run 74 candidates in March legislative elections, Reuters