In many areas they have enormous economic power through [legitimate] businesses they control, which means they have jobs to offer voters and cash to offer candidates. |
It's a close relation. In the regions, where they had the votes, they are regions in which they were the only ones who could campaign. |
Once the incident became public Uribe needed to take this step in order to combat charges that he and his allies are linked with the paramilitaries. |
One of the results of the election will be paramilitaries involved in the cocaine trade will gain a veneer of legitimacy while continuing their criminal activities. |