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Weekly Report - 12 September 2013 (WR-13-36)

Santos drapes himself in the flag

There is nothing quite like invoking national sovereignty to rally popular and political support. Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos, looking beleaguered after three weeks of debilitating strikes had pummelled his popularity, needed some succour. He got it by delivering a resolute televised speech in which he refused to apply a ruling issued 10 months ago by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague over a maritime dispute with Nicaragua on the grounds that it contravened the constitution. At a stroke he won support across the entire political spectrum, even earning the plaudits of his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), for his firm stance. It is a bold gambit, which could jeopardise Colombia’s international reputation.

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