Significance: The arrests come just days after the launch of a crucial regional and local electoral campaign in Colombia ahead of polls on 25 October. Some 100,000 candidates are competing for 18,600 positions, including the governors of the country’s 32 departments, mayors, local deputies, councillors and members of local administrative councils. The results of these elections are very important for the government led by President Juan Manuel Santos, as the authorities elected will implement any future peace accord signed with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc). Portela, who was elected for the Partido de la U, part of the ruling coalition, is serving in an area of guerrilla influence where Santos is desperate for hardworking candidates with integrity and honesty to come to power.
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