The Alternative Democratic Pole (Spanish: Polo Democrático Alternativo or PDA) is a left-wing political party in Colombia. It was founded as a political alliance of the Independent Democratic Pole (PDI) and the Democratic Alternative (AD) in December 2005. Both parties opposed the neoliberal economic program, securitization and militarization of Colombia under then-President Álvaro Uribe. Subsequently, it was the only parliamentary party to declare opposition to the government of Juan Manuel Santos, and has joined the opposition against the government of Ivan Duque. As of 2009, a considerable part of PDA politicians consist of former guerrilla fighters who gave up armed struggle and demobilized during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As of 2012, a considerable part of PDA politicians including the former guerrilla fighters are affiliated by will to the Green Party or to Movimiento Progresistas, or by disciplinary action to Marcha Patriótica, instead of PDA. Political development The PDI and AD initially had their own pre-candidates for the 2006 presidential race. PDI had nominated Antonio Navarro (former leader of M-19) and AD had nominated Carlos Gaviria. In a primary election held on March 12, 2006, Gaviria won the presidential nomination of the PDA. In the simultaneous legislative elections of 2006, the party won 9 out of 166 Deputies and 11 out of 100 senators. At the presidential elections of 28 May 2006, Carlos Gaviria came second with 22.04% of the vote, 2,613,157 votes. This was the highest ever result for a left-wing candidate in Colombia's history. Thus, the party replaced the long-standing Liberal Party as the country's second force and main opposition party. After the election, the PDA was successful in gaining the support of groups representing the indigenous movement which affiliated with the coalition. Also, on its fourth national congress, the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) commented favorably about the PDA's electoral performance and declared that political action should take precedence over armed struggle. Though, PDA is not related to guerrillas or any other armed factions as they clearly state in their founding doctrine: "We oppose to war and to the exercise of violence as means to political action". The PDA could further consolidate its organization and gain support on a local level. In October 2007, the PDA's candidate, Samuel Moreno Rojas won the mayoral election in Colombia's capital Bogotá. In the 2010 congressional election, PDA's support declined. It won 7.8% of votes and 8 of 100