The candidate Gustavo Petro generated quite a stir in recent hours by telling his followers on Twitter that it does not matter if they are paid for the vote, but to vote for him.
“Through all the networks that you have available, ask people if they are going to receive money from vote buyers, do it but vote for Petro and for the Pact. It’s time for change,” Petro said.
Federico Gutiérrez criticized him and questioned whether he was in a state of intoxication, appealing to the episode of happened in Girardot where he went out to give a speech following drinks.
“I don’t know if Petro wrote this soberly or not. But it is the last straw that instead of inviting people to denounce this crime, they want to take advantage of it. He is desperate. We are going to defeat him at the polls. We are going to win,” Fico told him.
Petro has been criticized for having given these statements, knowing that it is a crime as delicate as vote buying. A clear example is what happened around the former senator Aida Merlano, today a fugitive from justice and who four years ago obtained one of the best votes at the expense of that crime. For these facts she has related to the candidate Alejandro Char.
Former President Álvaro Uribe strongly questioned Petro. “This trill is from a rogue, it cannot be that Dr. Petro, presidential candidate, who would surely invite to denounce and not to participate in the crime, “said the leader of the Democratic Center.
In general they have asked Petro that instead of endorsing such a serious event, he denounces it and invites him not to appear.
Some are already wondering if the statements might bring Petro problems or some kind of sanction in electoral terms, not to mention that he still has the jurisdiction and responsibility of a senator of the Republic. Likewise, they claim that he is a candidate for the Presidency and that therefore he should have more responsibility when publishing this type of message.
“What has been said, Gustavo Petro is a thug, allied with the most rotten of the political class, he maintains his evil spirit of guerrilla and assassin, enjoys the destruction of the people, and incites the people run over by him and the corrupt people to receive money. they surround him Disgust!” assured the candidate for the Chamber for the Valley of Radical Change, Juanita Cataño.
Candidate David Barguil of Team for Colombia also criticized Petro’s message for seeking to be president at all costs. “The moral character of someone who does not encourage the citizen to denounce an electoral crime, but uses it for his own benefit, shows an unscrupulous being capable of anything for a few votes. What a danger someone like that running the country. The end does not justify the means,” said Barguil.
The message has generated so much controversy that even from the national government they responded to Petro. The chief of staff, María Paula Correa questioned it. “This candidate’s philosophy: if they offer you to buy your vote, don’t report it, be an accomplice, and vote for me,” said the senior official.
Interior Minister Daniel Palacios also responded to the candidate and asked him to denounce these events and not support them. “The message of a presidential candidate should be to ask citizens not to buy votes, instead of motivating them. To be denounced, not to commit an electoral crime. Leading is doing the right thing, the legal thing. Even when it means fewer votes!” Palacios said.
The actor Julio César Herrera showed that it is an unfortunate message and that the important thing is to denounce.
The message is presented just hours before the polls open for the inter-party consultations that will define the candidates of each sector.
