BOGOTA : Apathy at the Polls

Colombians vote Sunday for a new president in a close race, marked by apathy, that is expected to force a runoff between candidates from the country’s two main parties.

Liberal Party candidate Ernesto Samper has a small lead over Conservative Andres Pastrana in opinion polls. If none of the 18 candidates receives more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held in three weeks.

Both Samper and Pastrana have been hurt by their past association with corrupt or unpopular politicians. There is little difference in their platforms, with both candidates supporting the government’s policy of leniency toward cocaine traffickers who turn themselves in, a controversial practice that has been criticized by Washington.

The constitution prohibits President Cesar Gaviria of the Liberal Party from succeeding himself.