Colombian Politics (President Gaitan)

In 1946, disident Liberal run for president dividing the majoritary Liberal Party votes and allowing Conservative  to win the elections.

In order not to loose the next elections, the official Liberal Party convinced Gaitán to run again in 1950 with the support of the Party. Combining Gaitán's own popularity and the captive Liberal votes, Gaitán looked like he would win the presidential race in 1950.

President Ospina, aware of this situation, followed prudent politics, avoiding direct confrontation against the Liberal, and tried to pave the road for his successor: Laureano Gómez.

None of Ospina's politics could prevented, however, the outcome: Gaitán was elected president in 1950.

Gaitán was less incendiary than his former speaches. While he tried to introduce many social measures, he was a clever polititian that managed to keep support from the Colombian oligarchies and from the United States.

Gaitán was followed by, who had previously acted as president after the dimission of president Alfonso López Pumarejo.