Alfonso Prada confirmed as new head of debate for the campaign of Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez

On Wednesday, April 6, Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro and Vice-Presidential candidate Francia Márquez officially announced the entry of lawyer Alfonso Prada to their campaign.

Prada, who held important positions in the government of former President Juan Manuel Santos, such as the leadership of SENA and the General Secretariat of the Presidency, will be the head of debate for the candidates for the elections on May 29.

Alfonso Prada will be responsible for strengthening the proposals, coordinating the preparation of the candidate and articulating the arguments for the campaign in the presidential debate, as announced in the official presentation of the Historical Pact this Wednesday.

Francia Márquez, assured that this was a consensus decision, “a decision taken to win this country. Dr. Alfonso Prada, our welcome debate leader.”

In the welcome of the new member of the Historical Pact, Petro's vice-presidential formula highlighted the importance of welcoming and respecting the Peace Agreement that was signed during the Santos administration, of which Prada was a party.

Petro and Marquez say they are on their way to peace

“It's only a few days before we begin an era of tasty living, an era of living with dignity, social justice, gender justice, racial justice, an era of peace, a dream desired by so many Colombians. Today, that peace achievement that began in the government of Juan Manuel Santos but that this government shattered and which has condemned our people and communities to live in the midst of conflict, is the greatest challenge we face today as Colombians,” Márquez said in her speech.

Likewise, he added that this is the path that “we are tracing with our candidate Gustavo Petro, and of course with his presidential candidate Francia Márquez, who are going to be one and one holding hands with all of Colombia to generate the change we need. Here we are, weaving ourselves into difference, building like the great virtue that we are, from the diversity of colors that we are in this country. Welcome to all those who believe that from here we can build”, he added.

For his part, Gustavo Petro highlighted the creation of the Head of Debate, as a necessity to weave ties with other political and social forces that the Historical Pact reaches the “national majorities”.

Likewise, he stressed that the Historical Pact is approaching victory and that the polls support it. “We want to build those national majorities that are plural, diverse, politically and ideologically socially diverse men and women because that is the reality of our country,” said the leader of Human Colombia.

In addition, he recalled that when together with France they registered the candidacy, they concluded that they wanted to “rebuild the grand coalition of social and political forces that dared to build a path to peace”, which is why Prada joined the coalition.

Petro also stressed that although in the past he has had differences in some respects with Alfonso Prada, it is important to weave those ties in order to fulfill the objective of his government, should he reach the presidency.

For his part, Prada thanked the candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency and assured that their testimony about the relationship he has had with Petro is useful for the country, because although he has been contradictor to the candidate on many occasions, he decided to join the campaign to bring about change in the country and achieve peace.

In that regard, he recalled Petro's support for Santos to win the presidency when he faced Zuluaga and also during the plebiscite.

Likewise, he pointed out that Colombians must understand that one of those two models that they will face at the polls is the one that will lead Colombia to peace, referring to the coalition of the Historical Pact and what would be the government of Petro and Márquez.

KEEP READING: