Narayan AmmachchiColombia’s former president Alvaro Uribe, widely praised for cracking down on guerrilla group FARC, was last week elected the greatest Colombian in history in a poll organized by the History Channel.
Uribe, who ruled as president from 2002 to 2010, obtained 30.3% of the votes, according to Colombia Reports. The contest invited votes for the most important Colombians in the categories of history and politics, arts and journalism, science and sports.
According to newspaper El Espectador, more than a million votes were cast in the election. The BBC had organized a similar contest few years ago in which Winston Churchill was elected the Greatest Briton in British history.
The Colombia Reports said the former head of state is embroiled in a series of corruption scandals and facing several allegations including the extrajudicial execution of civilians and wiretapping of his political opponents.
In the contest, however, Uribe won 30.3% votes, while other competitors including Jaime Garzon, Manuel Elkin Patarroyo and Gabriel Garcia Marquez won 17.5, 4.85 and 4.78 percent of votes respectively.
The History Channel had held similar contests in Mexico and Argentina, with significant viewer participation of viewers, where the heroes selected were Benito Juarez and Jose de San Martin.
Uribe participated in the Nearshore Nexus 2012 held in New York City.
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