Who is Verónica Alcocer, the jovial and energetic conservative first lady who wanted to be a nun | PROFILE

Gustavo Petrowho this Sunday was elected president of Colombiadescribes his wife and future first lady, Verónica Alcocer, as a valkyrie, like those Germanic female entities that chose fallen heroes and took them to the hall of glories.

Jovial, smiling and wasteful of strength, this coastal will arrive at Casa Nariño with some unfinished business with feminism, after describing herself as “pro-life” and being reluctant to abortion and having appeared in a video criticizing women journalists and insinuating that they only get promoted with sexual favors.

LOOK: Petro’s ambitious economic proposals to transform Colombia (and the difficulties they pose)

In her role as First Lady, cook He has said in interviews that his position will be “to serve and not to be served”, which is why she wants to keep in touch with people, “listen to them”, and be linked to the cultural sector. Her mirror is Michelle Obama.

Gustavo Petro kisses his wife Verónica Alcocer at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá, on June 19, 2022. (Daniel MUÑOZ / AFP).

CONSERVATIVE TRADITION

From a conservative Caribbean family, admirer of traditional right-wing politicians like Álvaro Gómezthree-time presidential and constitutional candidate who was assassinated by the FARC in 1995, according to statements by members of the former guerrilla, and by his father, former president Laureano Gómez (1950-1951), Alcocer was born in 1976 in Sincelejo, capital of the department of Sucre.

Perhaps for that reason, and for being “ultra believer”, as defined, some of these decisions and positions are better understood. “I see God and my little Virgin everywhere, he is always with us”, he said a few months ago in El Tiempo, and even in her early teens, “from about thirteen to fifteen,” she wanted to be a nun.

Gustavo Petro arrives with his wife Verónica Alcocer at a polling station to cast his vote on May 29, 2022. (Juan BARRETO / AFP).

Unlike in other campaigns of Petro or when her husband was mayor of Bogotá who remained in the shadows, on this occasion he has decided to make many appearances and tour the countrydemonstrating her skills as a dancer and echoing the regional culture and traditions.

“Drummer, clarinet, trumpets and euphoniums sound to the rhythm of the joy of the sincelejanas”, was the message with which he premiered on Twitter in January, which he accompanied with a video dancing in his hometown with a troupe.

UNIVERSITY MEETING

Alcocer, who is 16 years younger than Petro, met him “in the early 2000s” when she was studying her first semester of Law. -a career that began three times and never ended- at the Caribbean University Corporation, in Sincelejo, and they invited him to the university to give a conference with others, as she herself explained a few months ago in an interview with Blu Radio.

“I have to confess that that day I did not know who Gustavo Petro was clearly”said then the coast woman, who assured that the first time they met “there was not much exchange of words; It just happened, he said a compliment and continued.

Verónica Alcocer kisses Vice President-elect Francia Márquez. (EFE/Carlos Ortega).

She was captivated by his intelligence. Petro tells in his book “One life, many lives” that when he found Veronica, “perhaps because of her blue eyes and light hair,” it reminded him “immediately of the Valkyries, the paradise of Germanic warriors.” He says that he called her that, and that is how a woman who he describes with force and who radiates strength and joviality “penetrated” his life.

She was a single mother at the age of 22, and with Petro, who also has previous children, she has had two daughters, Sofía and Antonella, and after marrying in 2000, they have now been together for more than 20 years.

“He has accompanied me so far this century, he has suffered my fears, my dangers, the random moments; The strength of the Valkyrie has allowed me to build the strong popular alternative of the recent history of Colombia. Perhaps it is time for the Valkyries to replace me.” write Petro in his autobiography.

Source: Elcomercio