Date:28 May 2006
What is elected: President and Congress (elections on 12 March)
Term: 4 years
Current president: Alvaro Uribe

Situation: Conservative President Alvaro Uribe won a landslide victory. Mr Uribe argued that he needed four more years to implement his tough policies against armed groups and drug-traffickers.

Mr Uribe, a close ally of Washington in its fight against drugs, has succeeded in putting the main left-wing rebel group, the Farc, on the back foot, which is one of the main reasons for his popularity. But the civil conflict has created a huge social convulsion - there are two million internally displaced people.

Colombians elected 199 deputies and 114 senators in March.