They ask that Francia Márquez be heard in Congress on the remarks of the president of the Senate

Senate President Juan Diego Gomez, in the midst of the political control debate with Registrar Alexander Vega, made strong statements against the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Historical Pact, Francia Márquez. The congressman linked the social leader with the ELN guerrillas.

The senator's intervention came after they questioned the Conservative Party — of which Gómez is a member — for its endorsements to Laureano Acuña, Aida Merlano and other politicians who are being investigated for alleged electoral corruption. The demands were made by the congressman of the Historical Pact, Wilson Arias.

Given this, Gómez replied: “I had not wanted to refer your party, which accompanies the ELN, active in terrorism, to its vice-president and celebrates the appointment of this woman. And that the former FARC and some dissidents have spoken out in favor of his presidential campaign.” In turn, he pointed out that in the Conservative Party “no one sponsors the Frontline.”

For these comments that stigmatized the candidate, legal action was announced against the Conservative Party militant. The Senator of the Democratic Pole, Alexander López, assured that, “the insulting, reckless and fallacious accusations made without any support by the President of the Senate, Juan Diego Gómez, violate human dignity, the right to a good name and the honor of Francia Márquez.”

Lopez also recalled that the candidate has received three threats against her life in the last month, so Gomez's claims would affect Marquez's safety. “These events once again target France as the target of illegal armed actors who in the past attempted her life and forced her to leave their territory,” the senator states in a press release shared on his social networks.

With these arguments, Alexander López requested that Francia Márquez be heard before the Senate plenary, so that “she can refer to this corporation and the country in order to explain what its social and political trajectory has been.” He also asked that he be given the guarantees so that he can continue his political campaign, because, “from the very institutions of the State, his life is being put at risk”.

Finally, he called on citizens, political sectors and the international community to protect Marquez from the situation he is facing.

Francia Márquez asked for an appointment with prosecutor Francisco Barbosa after receiving a new threat

The most recent threat received by the vice-presidential candidate was attributed to the self-styled Black Eagles, who released a pamphlet declaring her a military objective, as well as the candidate for the presidency, Gustavo Petro.

Marquez commented at a press conference in Bello, Antioquia, that he informed the Attorney General's Office of the first two threats, but he has not received a response from the entity indicating the initiation of an investigation. “We reported the two previous threats to the Prosecutor's Office, I still don't even get a call from someone from the Prosecutor's Office saying 'we're worried about this',” said Petro's vice-presidential formula.

The leader asked for an appointment with the Attorney General of the Nation, Francisco Barbosa, from which she has not yet received a response. “We asked, as a result of the situation, an appointment from the Attorney General of the Nation and so far he has not given us an answer,” confirmed the leader. In turn, he demanded that President Iván Duque be guaranteed all security measures so that he can continue his political campaign.

KEEP READING: