Colombia remains a key epicenter of the class struggle in Latin America and of the struggle between the United States and Latin America, but following this year’s elections, the conditions of that struggle have radically changed. Legislative elections on March 8 made the Pacto Historico, the rising leftwing party here, the biggest party in Colombia in almost every respect. De la Espriella is a lawyer who has specialized in defending corrupt politicians and businessmen, paramilitary leaders and drug dealers. The Registrar, and the majority of the National Electoral Council, are members of political parties opposed to the Pacto Historico. One of those assassinated was a UP leader Manuel Cepeda, the father of the current Pacto Historico leader Ivan Cepeda.