Medellín-Antioquia Alliance, 2012-2015. Results and prospects

Abstract

In Colombia the parties tend to form alliances in the framework of election campaigns to achieve popular elected office. In 2011 an Alliance was formed to win the election for mayor of Medellín and Government of Antioquia, called Medellín-Antioquia Alliance, effective for the period 2012-2015; this Alliance would constitute a unique opportunity to define a common public agenda, a product of the interplay between the local and regional government to care for joint problems, searching for territorial balance and the proper integration of Medellín and Antioquia, thus seeking to raise levels of quality of life of the population and ensure sustainability and competitiveness of the territory. Hence the emphasis was on issues such as education and vulnerable sectors through focusing on social inclusion programs. In the area of territorial balance, 36 programs and projects were registered in the case of Medellin’s town hall and 21 in the Government of Antioquia. Despite its aim, the Alliance depended on the government leadership, which must be substracted from discretion: it must have been an obligation, no for candidates but for the elected governors.