Colombian Political Figure declines Uribe‘s Call for primary Participation, Cites popular Support
Bogotรก, Colombia -โฃ Abelardo de la Espriella โขhas publicly revealed a letter sent to former Colombian President รlvaroโ Uribe, declining to participate in the March consultation intended to select a unified opposition candidate. De la Espriella โasserts his decision stems from overwhelming public supportโค demonstrated through millions of signatures adn โa commitment to prioritizing national interests over โpersonal attacks.
De la Espriella’s refusal comes amidstโค efforts to consolidate opposition against the current government and its potential successor, Ivรกn Cepeda. He arguesโฃ that abandoning the demonstrated will of the people – evidenced by the collected signatures – to appease “egos and โindividual political interests” would betray a loyal base that โvalues his consistency. He frames his โคstance as a defense against a potential continuation of the current administration’s policies, warning that allowing Cepeda to campaign unchallenged risks “definitively losing the homeland.”
In โคthe letter,made publicโค today,de la Espriella stated that even considering “the infamies that have been said against me” would be unacceptable if it โmeant compromising the “high interests of the country.” He further emphasized his willingness to collaborate withโค those not aligned with the Petro government, โcalling for a unified front to confront Cepeda.
De la Espriella concluded by stating thatโฃ unity โis “not an option, โbut rather an urgency to save โฃColombia from dictatorship,” and that this alliance with the people supersedes any political maneuvering. The move signals a potential fracture within the opposition coalition as it attempts to present a strong challenge inโ upcoming elections.