Uribe's U Party and Conservative Party securedmost seats in the Senate, according to partial tallies. But tightresults between the allies may split the coalition if candidates fromboth parties run in the presidential election on May 30.
The conservative leader remains popularafter taking the fight to FARC guerrillas and drug traffickers.Colombia's war has ebbed and investment this year should reach $10billion from $2 billion when Uribe first came to power in 2002.
The solid showing by Uribe's U Party onSunday benefits Juan Manuel Santos, a former defense minister who isahead in opinion polls and says he is the candidate to continue Uribe'sfight against rebels from the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces ofColombia.
But Santos does not havethe support to avoid a second round in June, and the close result inCongress could convince Conservatives to ignore a Santos proposal for aunity candidate and run their own presidential bid in the first round inMay.
"The U Party, the party ofPresident Uribe, has won," Santos said in a speech to supporters. "Theseresults consolidate us once again."