The UDP Special Committee voted last week to disallow John Saldivar's candidacy in the Belmopan convention. While he is appealing that decision - in the interim that takes one formidable politician out of what was a four way race. And now that the convention date has been set for February fifth - the three remaining contenders, Khalid Belisle, Emil Torres and George Lovell are now facing a race with a very different dynamic.
And the wild card is car salesman Emil Torres. We say wild card, because he's not a traditional UDP and has no long time ties to the party - but his salesman's skillset may give him a certain sway with new voters. Today we asked him how the race changes with Saldivar out of it:
Reporter
"How do you feel now that a convention date has been set?"
Emil Torres, UDP Aspirant for Belmopan
"I feel excellent, amazing. Every day and every week we're on the go on the grounds and it is the same response everywhere we go. People want the change, a new face, new ideas, just the purge they call it, that Belmopan needed."
Reporter
"But, you have to agree that John Saldivar at any point, good for 200-400 people who will say 'I remember you helped me with xy and I came out for you'. Taking him out of the race has a consequential effect on that convention."
Emil Torres, UDP Aspirant for Belmopan
"I wouldn't necessarily say it has a consequential effect on a convention, but then again, you are the political analyst, you are the political guru here. So, I will leave it up to you and John and the National Party Council to decide. That has nothing to do with Emil Torres. I already told you, stop talking about your ex girl, I'm here now. New kid on the block, new girl friend. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I don't know if one of my competitors will back out tomorrow. I don't know if your good friend, your ex girlfriend will be in the race next week. I don't know, that does not change my focus. Now, what will change is the amount of people that will come out and vote for me. So, the margin that I was going to win will just keep on increasing, that is the bottom line."
Reporter
"You keep dreaming brother."
Emil Torres, UDP Aspirant for Belmopan
"I told you, I'll surprise you, then Belize, then the world."
Reporter
"You still though, will not be seen as the front runner because if John Saldivar is out of the race, Khalid Belisle will then, one thinks, take up those UDP loyalty hard core votes. And he then, would be seen as the front runner if Saldivar is out. You are still in the backseat. What is your response to that?"
Emil Torres, UDP Aspirant for Belmopan
"So, I'm at number 3 or number 4 because you haven't given your buddy a little 2 cent there. Put me anywhere you want, in the passenger seat, the trunk, Jesus take the wheel. All the rest, leave it up to them, if Khalid is the man, then he is the man. It doesn't make an ounce of a difference. It doesn't change my game plan, it doesn't change me in terms of ready to work and being out there putting in the work. That wont change and guess why, because we still have an election, municipal and a general election that we need to win."
Like we said, the convention is in two months - and it is the very first convention on the schedule for the UDP.
Saldivar's appeal to an emergency session of his party's National Party Council will be heard on December 17th.
