Gustavo Petro accepted that he could meet with Juan Manuel Santos: “We need him with us”

On Thursday, March 24, Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez met with the bench of the Historical Pact, formed after the last legislative elections, to join the Congress of the Republic. In this way, it was intended to establish some guidelines regarding the electoral campaign that is underway for the elections on May 29. This meeting also defined how some meetings will take place with different political sectors.

Petro currently leads the intention to vote in the country according to the polls, however, he knows the importance of continuing to generate political alliances, this after what happened with Cesar Gaviria and the Liberal Party, who through a letter completely closed the route of dialogues with the Historical Pact.

Another of the strongest names is Juan Manuel Santos, the former president could be key for different political parties and although he has several files close to the Centro Esperanza coalition, Gustavo Petro considers it important and necessary for his project. The presidential candidate praised him and exalted his legacy after his term in Colombia.

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“I think we need to make a big deal, it's part of what we were talking about, to completely revitalize the option of peace in Colombia. The great, definitive and permanent peace is just around the corner. It can be done if the people of Colombia, who want peace, come together,” said Gustavo Petro.

The candidate of the Historical Pact emphasizes that there are traditional political forces and figures who have worked hard for peace in the country, “I am even a witness of that. These are people we need with us.” He added that, “if the fundamental agreement were peace, which implies reforms, a more democratic society, a democratizing state, we would have the options of a great political and social agreement in Colombia.”

Regarding a possible meeting with Juan Manuel Santos, he said that he would meet “even with Uribe” if it is on issues of peace. Later, the presidential candidate spoke about what happened with Cesar Gaviria and his disgust after the words of his vice-presidential formula, Francia Márquez, Petro put aside all the rumors and pointed out that, “in our conversation, he mentioned that he was not interested in that. It has nothing to do with it. I think there are still fears to take a decisive position on changing Colombia.”

Petro has already met with Dilian Francisca Toro, president of the U party and Germán Vargas Lleras of Radical Change, now he hopes to speak with more political leaders, but says that, “The fundamental dialogue is with the people. I'm already looking forward to leaving Bogotá and starting my journey to talk to Colombian society.”

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The Colombian far-right candidate, Federico Gutiérrez, said that in the coming days he will meet with former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Juan Manuel Santos. The former mayor of Medellín said he wants to talk to the former president about the implementation of the Peace Agreement between the state and the FARC.

“I will also talk to the Juan Manuel Santos file and we will talk mainly with the implementation of the Peace Agreement and above all about how real peace is needed in the territories, where we guarantee security, but also investment,” Gutiérrez said.

He pointed out that, “I am not going to return to a discussion of five or six years, I am going to comply with the peace accords, but that implies that the FARC also has to comply, because they have not complied with the victims.”

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