This Saturday, January 20, Senator Piedad Córdoba of the Historical Pact lost her life due to a heart attack. The Colombian politician was declared dead upon entering the Conquistadores clinic in Medellín. The congresswoman was days away from celebrating her 68th birthday, which would be on January 25.
His political career was marked by his work during the mandates of Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010), being a key figure in the negotiations for the release of kidnapped people held by the FARC.
However, some victims, such as Íngrid Betancourt, criticized Córdoba, suggesting that these releases had a political background, connected to the figure of presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro, with whom he maintained a close relationship.
Senator Córdoba was a controversial and recognized figure in the Colombian political sphere. Her peace efforts and her career controversies kept her name in constant public debate.
His participation in humanitarian efforts and his international ties defined a profile that alternated between praise and scrutiny. The news of his death has resonated across Colombia’s political and social spectrum, providing a space to reflect on his legacy and the complex peace processes in the country’s recent history.
Piedad Córdoba recently faced the extradition of her brother Álvaro Córdoba to the United States, after being arrested and accused of drug trafficking crimes. The brother of the renowned Colombian politician recognized his guilt in the North American country. This situation occurs in a context in which Piedad Córdoba has been highlighted in mediation processes for the release of those kidnapped by the FARC during the era of former president Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010).
Although Córdoba denied these claims, his political career was surrounded by controversy and speculation about his relationship with armed groups and neighboring governments. The accusations point to a possible use of the circumstances of the kidnappings to favor specific political agendas, which has generated debates in public opinion and tensions between the political actors involved.
Who was Piedad Córdoba
Colombian politician Piedad Córdoba, who began her career in the public administration of Medellín in the 1980s, and subsequently had a long career in the Colombian Congress, suffered a weakening of her political influence in recent years due to controversies and accusations of connections improper Córdoba, after being dismissed and disqualified in 2010 by the Attorney General’s Office from holding public office, managed to get the Council of State to annul that decision in 2016.
Despite his return to the political arena with the Historical Pact, his presence has been intermittent due to health problems and accusations related to Alex Saab and his brother’s criminal activities in the United States.
Piedad Córdoba, born in Medellín in 1955, began her political work under the tutelage of liberal leader William Jaramillo, serving first as municipal deputy controller and then as General Secretary during Jaramillo’s mayoralty. She was elected councilor in 1988 and councilor in 1989. Her legislative career took off in 1991 when she was elected to the Chamber by the Jaramillista faction and, in 1994, she reached the Senate.
After being re-elected four times, in 2003 he became president of the Colombian Liberal Party. Despite political differences with then-president Álvaro Uribe, in 2007 Córdoba collaborated in the negotiation of the humanitarian agreement with the FARC, a period that began his closeness with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and triggered accusations of collaboration with guerrillas, resulting in his dismissal. and the ban on holding public office for 18 years, a sanction later annulled by the Council of State.
Piedad Córdoba’s public image was affected not only by her health problems that have reduced her continuity on the political scene, but also by allegations of questionable alliances, such as those attributed to businessman Alex Saab, involved in illicit financial activities.
Likewise, the conduct of his brother, who admitted his guilt for drug trafficking before a US court, has contributed to the controversy and the decrease in his political capital. With Infobae
