Petro revealed that he broke into tears when he saw the photo of Ingrid Betancourt in chains: “It is a symbol of resistance”

The presidential debate on Tuesday, March 29, organized by the Universidad Externado de Bogotá, left an episode of possible reconciliation between the candidates Gustavo Petro, of the Historical Pact, and Ingrid Betancourt, from Oxygen Green. On repeated occasions, they have faced each other vehemently.

During one of the segments, the panelists asked the applicants to recognize one of their opponents. On that aside, the leader of Human Colombia recalled the kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt, which was postponed for more than 6 years at the hands of the then guerrilla, FARC.

Petro evoked the memory of her opponent's photo at the chained ballot box, which was not only one of the surviving tests of the former congressman, but became one of the icons of the Colombian armed conflict. What's more, that photo went around the world.

“I've known Ingrid Betancourt for a long time. At some point in the long political journey that we have shared, I saw the photo that of the networks and I must confess that I cried. I cried because from my revolutionary perspective, shackling a person was the complete opposite of what I could understand was a transformation of Colombia,” Gustavo Petro reflected.

In addition, the presidential candidate acknowledged that, when Álvaro Uribe ruled the country for eight years, he supported the messages of liberation for Colombians in captivity and was moved when he saw the current leader of Oxygen Green in chains.

However, he did not miss an opportunity to question those events convened by today's natural head of the Democratic Center. “I saw things that weren't so beautiful, a Nazi formation there that made me sick to my stomach, but I left,” said Petro, in turn leaving emotional praise to the former kidnapper.

“For me, Ingrid is a symbol of resistance. Colombia needs resistance, it is the moment when resistance becomes government, becomes life, power of life,” the former mayor of Bogotá concluded in his speech.

After that emotional message, which did not go unnoticed by those attending the debate, the applicant for successor to Iván Duque responded to Petro in an effusive manner, but reminded him that it has differed from “all the economic proposals” of the presidential candidate.

“Thank Gustavo, really. It touched my soul and I know that this is true, that it is meaningful and that it is real and I want to tell you that even though we have been so far away, and that I have been against all the economic proposals that you have made, it seems to me that there is one that we share and that is the need to have a tax on productive lands,” said Betancourt .

The moment won applause from the public. In addition, on social networks they highlighted the ability of both political leaders to set aside their very marked political differences in order to show a message to the country of fraternity and reconciliation.

It should be remembered that a few weeks ago, during another debate, Betancourt and Petro faced, the point that the former congresswoman faced the leader of Human Colombia with a possible event of depression that he suffered many years ago. “I think you have Alzheimer's. I honestly don't think you've seen. And in fact, when I went to visit Gustavo, I remember that he was in a big depression, lying on the floor, unable to move. I'm not going to get involved in your private life, Gustavo, but what the country knows is that if there is anyone who confronted Ernesto Samper, it was me,” said the candidate of Oxygen Green,” said Ingrid Betancourt.

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