Despite the looming threat from drug cartels, the first round of Colombia's presidential election passed off peacefully and without any evidence of rigging, inspectors from the Organization of Americans States said.
The OAS observers' verdict was received with relief by analysts amid Colombian media projections that transition to a new presidency could be fraught with political and economic risks after a return to stability engineered by outgoing President Alvaro Uribe.
Former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, short of an outright win, is likely to emerge the winner when the second round takes place June 20.
Both Colombian and foreign media had banked on a victory by left-leaning Green Party candidate and former Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus, who got 21 percent of the vote against 47 percent secured by Santos.
Santos swept in with strong backing from Uribe's ruling U Party, which he leads. Much of the swing in his favor had to do with the continuing popularity of Uribe, who went ahead with his war on drug traffickers and clinched a defense cooperation deal with the United States despite opposition across Latin America.
Uribe has served two terms and is barred from running for a third, in a scenario witnessed earlier in Chile with the departure of Michele Bachelet after a mandatory single term in office and scheduled handover of power in Brazil by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after serving two terms allowed by the constitution.
In the case of both Brazil and Colombia, popular leaders have made way for candidates who won support on the understanding they would continue the incumbents' policies.
The election surprised observers both because of its outcome and lack of violence. The OAS mission said none of its members found evidence of vote fraud and noted the quiet and non-violent atmosphere during the whole process.
OAS officials said the elections were the quietest of the last four decades in Colombia.
Although OAS officials had to move some ballot boxes because of threats, the security situation remained stable with very few problems reported or witnessed, they said.
Santos, widely favored to win the presidency in the June 20 runoff, hopes to boost his support by securing more backing from the Conservative party members of Congress.
Mockus said he wouldn't seek to widen his support base but would canvass for greater attendance. An estimated 51 percent of the electorate stayed away from the Sunday vote.
Conservative leader Fernando Araujo said a majority of the party's lawmakers back Santos because they see him as continuing Uribe's policies.
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