One of his main weaknesses was his absence from the country’s public life for 13 years. Living abroad gave the image of ignorance and disconnection with the Colombian reality, which led to the resignation of his candidacy
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Former Colombian presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt, in an archive photograph . EFE/Carlos Ortega
With a scant 0.5% intention to vote in the polls for the presidential elections, Ingrid Betancourt he failed to connect his proposals with the country’s electorate. The continuous altercations and friction with the members of the Hope Center Coalition before launching herself into the race for the presidency alone, showed her as a conflictive candidate and with few proposals that would enrich the political debate.
One of his main weaknesses was his absence from the country’s public life for 13 years. Living abroad gave the image of ignorance and disconnection with the Colombian reality, which led to the resignation of his candidacy and joining the campaign of Rodolfo Hernández, the candidate with the highest growth in the polls in recent weeks.
Through a joint statement from the two campaigns, special emphasis was placed on the following:
“The decision is based on the conviction that there is more that unites the two candidates than what separates them, in the understanding of offering Colombian men and women a presidential option that brings them together around the same philosophy regarding management ethics of the public sphere, and in the relentless fight against politicking and the corruption that derives from it.”
Although there are great differences, both from Betancourt and from Hernández, they are united by the frontal fight against corruption, which has been the backbone of their proposals. From this point, the link that has allowed the union of the two campaigns is centered. Rodolfo Hernández has centered his campaign on the postulate that “the majority of government officials are corrupt.”
Ingrid Betancourt’s contribution to Rodolfo Hernández
It is clear that this adherence will not make a significant contribution to the number of voters for Hernández’s campaign. However, it can be understood in two ways: the first, a media coup that gives Rodolfo Hernández visibility in the international field, due to Ingrid Betancourt’s strong ties with the elites of France, a fact that can allow him, relatively, leave behind the image of a candidate from the province; His entire public life was spent in Bucaramanga, where he is widely known, although he continues to be unknown in much of the country.
Secondly, it was a clear message for Fajardo, who flirted with the possibility of achieving a union of the center in a possible second round, to arrive united and stronger to the competition for the presidential aspirations. “This is the only decision that is worth taking at this time, there can be no other type of consideration, neither economic nor legal, only what is convenient for Colombia, putting aside our personal interests, without personal ambition, without egos, for Colombia, uniting, this is the campaign where we can unite”, emphasized former candidate Betancourt.
Similarly, the arrival of Betancourt also brings Colonel (r) José Luis Esparza, who was his formula for the vice presidency and participated in Operation Jaque: he enjoys high recognition among active and retired members of the military forces. This may facilitate a bridge between candidate Hernández and retired members of the Armed Forces, with whom he previously had altercations due to statements referring to the values of their pensions.
The final stretch of the race for the presidency showed the intention of capturing the voting intention of the sectors regarding the choice of a candidate or the votes of those who are still afraid of the proposals of Gustavo Petro and Federico Gutiérrez. We will have to wait how the chips are rearranged for a possible second round.
*Gabriel Clavijo is a political scientist (Universidad Javeriana) and Master (Political and International Studies, Universidad del Rosario) . He is also a teacher (Military University, Polytechnic Grancolombiano) and a political and international analyst and public policy consultant.