Controversy for participation in politics by some mayors in favor of Federico Gutiérrez

Within the framework of the National Congress of Municipalities held in Cartagena de Indias, various leaders of the country gathered here to establish dialogues regarding the future and present of the nation. However, this important event had a particular visit, as the Julio César Turbay Ayala Convention Center arrived at the venue Federico Gutiérrez, candidate for president by the Team for Colombia, in this case, the Antioquian politician, was apparently supported by several mayors.

The candidate for the presidency campaigned in various areas of La Heroica, the capital of Bolivar, however, in the midst of his tour of that city, he visited the National Congress of Municipalities, where he was received amid ovations and applause from the participants, this situation caused controversy, as it appeared as if were receiving the same president.

The reactions were divided, although several candidates showed support and even spoke of contributions of votes to Federico Gutiérrez's campaign for the presidency. Here, some mayors allegedly insisted on adding votes for the eventual election of this candidate from their municipalities; the mayor of San Juan de Nepomuceno, Wilfrido Romero Vergara, made a controversial statement after the event, mentioning: “No, no, the line doesn't work, those have 2,000 votes, I give them 40,000,” that was evidenced in a video published by W Radio.

Similarly, Marcos Adrián Artunduaga, mayor of Timana, joined the ovation shouting: “Fico, Fico, Fico”, a situation that caused controversy in other attendees, despite not having shown his disagreement. Mayor José Ramos de Cicuo and Raquel Sierra, president of María La Baja, requested photographs from the candidate who did not refuse to provide them.”

The other side of the matter was presented by the mayor of the municipality of Colón, Nariño, Segundo Gil, as he demonstrated his annoyance with the candidate's visit and affirmed that if so, the presence of all applicants was necessary, Gil pointed out: “We are at the National Congress of Municipalities in the city of Cartagena, to which we are invited annually to all mayors, to deal with issues that have to do with the national order, and with the policy to be developed in our municipalities at the central level, however, today the candidate Federico Gutiérrez appears curiously in this precinct, we do not know what the intention is for the candidate to attend this scenario, the truth is we have become upset because all the candidates should have been invited if that was the idea, however, we want this congress, which is an administrative and national order, not to become a political venue for the rest of the candidates, who ultimately are the ones who are going to take advantage of this scenario.” .

Likewise, the mayor of Nariño stressed that he found this act embarrassing and asked for clear explanations. Faced with this, he said: “I am very disgusted with the truth with this situation, we have called on the National Commission of Municipalities to explain, they say that they have invited all the candidates but it is not true, we know that no it is true and this is really shameful, to organize an event like this to generate politics, to make all kinds of excuses in the National Congress of Municipalities and it is not right.” .

With regard to this controversial situation, two articles of Law 034 of 2002 must be taken into account, concerning the prohibitions and guiding principles of disciplinary law, since in this case, any public official is prohibited from making public participation in the political arena in the context of the exercise of his office, a situation that was as evidenced by the aforementioned mayors in Federico Gutiérrez's speech in Cartagena.

The articles in question of the single disciplinary code read:

“39. Use the office to participate in the activities of political parties and movements and in political disputes, without prejudice to the rights provided for in the Constitution and the law.”

“40. Use employment to pressure individuals or subordinates to support a political cause or campaign or influence electoral processes of a partisan political nature.”

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