Senator-elect Humberto de la Calle, who is a member of the Oxygen Green party, asked the presidential candidate of that community, Ingrid Betancourt, to renounce her aspiration. The Congressman's motives have to do with not engaging in double membership and being able to campaign Sergio Fajardo, the candidate of Centro Esperanza.
The request of De la Calle was announced by Betancourt herself, who revealed that her co-supporter sent her a message on WhatsApp at 10 p.m. this Tuesday, March 29, where he asks him to withdraw from the presidential race so that he does not engage in double membership by wanting to support the former governor of Antioch.
De la Calle, who was chief negotiator of the agreements with the FARC, reminded Betancourt that before he resigned from Centro Esperanza, “the following was said: candidates for the Senate, 'will be able to freely and independently, without engaging in double membership, support candidates for the House or consultations for the presidency of the Republic who are to present for the elections of March 13, 2022, even if they belong to other political parties or movements, '” said the head of list to the Senate of the Centro coalition.
In addition, De la Calle reminded Betancourt that, although they had signed agreements, she broke them by leaving that alliance. “Through your unilateral decision, you announced that you were unaware of this agreement and that you would seek the Presidency alone,” he said, in turn that he questioned the National Electoral Council for not giving him an answer as to whether they let him support Fajardo militating in Oxygen Green.
” The CNE did not speak and the request remained in the hands of the Ministry of the Interior. This Ministry categorically conceptualized that I cannot support the winning candidate of the Coalition consultation on pain of losing the Senator's inauguration,” he said, in turn that he ruled out wanting to support Gustavo Petro and Francisco Gutiérrez because they “do not offer real solutions” and that is why he believes that who he should support is Fajardo.
He concluded: “I do not ignore your right to run for the presidency, but in the current circumstances I invite you to join forces at the center. It's time for unity. I firmly believe that this is the right path for Colombia,” said de la Calle in the message released by the press team of the Green Oxygen candidate.
Both in dialogue with the media and in an official statement, Ingrid Betancourt ruled out giving up her application for succeeding Iván Duque and left several messages to Humberto de la Calle.
“I want to say is that we are all subject to the law here. We know the rules. No one took him by surprise. The legal conditions have not been changed for anyone,” said Betancourt, in turn questioning the Esperanza Center Coalition and the Street itself.
On the other hand, in dialogue with W Radio, Betancourt announced the points he made to his co-supporter on this issue. “I proposed to Humberto that Verde Oxígeno draw a resolution to release them. At the time there was the possibility that we withdrew his guarantee, but he refused to accept that proposal. The fact is that in politics you have to take responsibility. They are mature men and they knew that their decisions had a chain effect,” he said.
For now, further pronouncements are expected.
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