Gustavo Petro suspends electoral trip due to suspicions of a plan to assassinate him in Colombia

The opposition senator and Colombian left-wing candidate Gustavo Petrofavorite for the presidential elections in May, suspended a trip to the coffee region on suspicion of a plan to attempt on his life, his campaign denounced on Tuesday.

Petro62, who dominates the intention to vote ahead of the May 29 election according to several polls, was scheduled to visit the center-west of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of his tour electoral.

Look: Colombia: they investigate the commander of the Army for attacking Petro, the favorite to win the presidential elections

However, his scheme “security received first-hand information from sources in the area”according to “the criminal group La Cordillera would be planning to attempt against the life of the candidate”, his team said in a statement.

The government and the police reacted to the resignation by denying that they had “intelligence information” either “linked to judicial proceedings that allow inferring the existence of a criminal plan against the candidate.”

The police authority noted in a statement that the prosecution will verify what was said by the investigation team. Petro, “including the alleged threat from the criminal group ‘La Cordillera’”.

According to the legislator’s campaign, La Cordillera is a paramilitary organization “dedicated to drug trafficking and hired assassins.”

He even mentioned that some military and police officers operate with the gang and that “highly credible sources” told him that a police officer would take part of the “criminal plan” against Petro.

Faced with the threat, thecampaign has preferred to be cautious” and postpone activities in the coffee region, informed their press advisors.

opposites

Petro, a former guerrilla who fought the Colombian state before signing peace in 1990, has repeatedly expressed concern for his safety.

“Before I govern they are going to try to prevent it. That ranges from moral destruction to physical destruction”he said in a recent interview with journalist María Jimena Duzán on Spotify.

Heavily escorted, the former mayor of Bogotá and candidate for the Historical Pact – a leftist coalition – leads an intense campaign with several rallies a day.

This Monday, Defense Minister Diego Molano insisted that, on the instructions of President Iván Duque, the public force will deploy the “maximum capacities” to give “security to all presidential candidates in all corners of the country.”

Opinion studies give Petro as the winner in the next elections, although it would not obtain more than 50% of the support it needs to avoid the ballot that would take place on June 19.

If he wins, it will be the first time Colombians have elected a leftist as president after a long tradition of liberal and conservative governments.

Petro He would face former Medellín mayor Federico Gutiérrez in the second round, second in voting intention and who was nominated by an alliance of right-wing parties. President Iván Duque, who ends his four-year term sunk in unpopularity, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.

One month before the elections, polarization is increasing.

Petro He proposes a government of reforms, with tax increases for the richest, the strengthening of the State and the suspension of new oil initiatives, while Gutiérrez proposes to continue with a model that favors private initiative and a strong hand against violence.

Source: Elcomercio

Deshawn