[ad_1]
With the choice of four names for its list to the Senate for the legislative elections of 2022, the Democratic Center woke up the other political parties early and set people with recognition within the public opinion to represent it in the next congress.
The former candidate for mayor of Bogotá Miguel Uribe Turbay; the retired general and ex-kidnapped by the Farc, Luis Herlindo Mendieta; victim leader Lorena Murcia, and actor Jorge Cárdenas They are the first names on the Uribe Senate roster who hope to compete in next year’s elections.
For several observers, the selection of these four candidates coincides with the philosophy of the Democratic Center, a party that has been defined by several of its members and congressmen as coming from the opinion around its inspirer, former president and former congressman Álvaro Uribe.
(Read also: Álvaro Uribe confirms that Miguel Uribe will be a candidate for the CD Senate)
Unlike other collectives, in which the candidates represent very defined political sectors, the Democratic Center seems to be seeking an approach to different opinion groups and from different parts of the country, which, for some, may be a successful strategy in the next election.
With the exception of Jorge Cárdenas, the other three chosen so far respond to the profile of the Democratic Center candidates for Congress And announcing them so far in advance – more than a year before the legislative elections – could be due to Uribe’s desire to replace the image of its inspirer, former President Uribe, who, most likely, will not be on the Senate list.
Miguel Uribe Turbay, former Bogotá government secretary and former mayoral candidate.
Milton Diaz. TIME
After his resignation from Congress in August of last year, Uribe seems to be more aligned with the ideological leadership of the community and not with the daily bustle of politics, in which his congressmen will continue.
(In other news: Who are the first bets of the Democratic Center for Senate)
Miguel Uribe Turbay is a young man with a lot of political projection, who has a liberal origin, he passed through the council of Bogotá, the government secretary of the capital -In the mayoralty of Enrique Peñalosa- and competed for that position in the 2019 local elections.
Despite being a man made in Bogotá, his name has been used for positions as Minister of the Interior in the government of President Iván Duque.
General (r.) Luis Mendieta after his rescue, in 2010.
Photo:
Uribe Turbay himself told EL TIEMPO that one of his main motivations for reaching Congress next year is “Enter the discussion” of challenges for the country such as vaccination, “job creation, poverty reduction” and “security for citizens.”
(In other news: This Wednesday another law comes into force to protect children)
Retired General Luis Herlindo Mendieta is one of the men of greatest descent within the National Police. For several years he fought the guerrillas and illegal armed groups in departments such as Arauca and Vaupés.
Not in vain was he kidnapped by the ex-guerrilla of the Farc after the taking of Mitú (Vaupés), in 1998, and was held by that group for 11 years and 7 months, many of which were in subhuman conditions. In June 2010 he was rescued by the Army in a tough military operation.
(Recommended: Round: Claudia López should go?)
Aspired to the presidency in 2018
After reaching the peace agreement with the Farc, General Mendieta became a harsh critic of it and in 2018 he aspired to the Presidency on behalf of the Patria Nueva movement defending its ideals. In the end, the uniformed man joined the campaign of former vice president Germán Vargas Lleras.
(See also: Controversy over the revocation of the mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero)
The name of Lorena Murcia began to be familiar to Colombians as a result of the complaints from the Rosa Blanca Corporation, an organization that brings together a group of women who like her claim to have been victims of sexual violence by some members of the Farc.
According to herself, she told EL TIEMPO almost two years ago, she was recruited by that ex-guerrilla when she was 10 years old, in Caquetá, and there she was sexually abused by one of her comrades in arms. Years later he surrendered to the Army.
(In Bogotá) I demonstrated what it means to do transparent and efficient management. Now I am motivated by the need to solve citizens’ problems
Both in the case of Mendieta and Lorena Murcia it is clear that their positions coincide with the criticisms of various sectors of Uribe to some aspects of the agreement with the Farc.
(You may be interested in: They propose that there be a national day in memory of the victims of covid-19)
And as for Jorge Cárdenas, he is an actor born in Cali, who dabbled in several soap operas and now dedicated to entrepreneurship and business in the country, Mexico and the United States.
As it has transpired, within its purposes, if it reaches the Senate, it is to promote projects for entrepreneurs and the theatrical union.
(Read also: Álvaro Uribe profiles former minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo / column)
The safest thing is that these names will be joined by the current senators of the Democratic Center and some House representatives who want to reach the Senate in the March elections of next year.
The only thing clear so far is that the race for the Senate has already begun and that uribismo, With four figures from different sectors of opinion, it seems to be poking.
In other politics news
The ideological divide in liberalism sharpens
Controversy grows over suspension of recalls of mayors
‘I agree with a vision of the country that guarantees security’
POLITICS
