The presidential candidates Federico Gutiérrez and Sergio Fajardo discussed through their social networks this Saturday following the former learned regarding the presence of the elected senator Ariel Ávila, from Fajardo’s campaign, at his event in Santander.
The former mayor of Medellin and Team for Colombia candidate criticized the former governor of Antioquia and candidate for the Hope Center who sent Ávila, who claims he is in charge of the ‘anti Fico’ campaign to “infiltrate” his public event .
“I was in solidarity with Sergio Fajardo as he was the victim of a dirty war on Petro’s part. But the most incredible thing is that now it’s Fajardo himself who is waging a dirty war on me, sending Ariel, the ‘anti Fico’, to infiltrate our event to provoke our people. Fair play”, claimed Gutiérrez.
After publishing the video of the elected senator present at the event held by the former mayor of Medellín with the support of conservative and liberal politicians in Santander, he proceeded to make another publication expanding the claim once morest the candidate of the Esperanza Center.
“I ask Sergio Fajardo if it is correct to send his people to a citizen meeting in Bucaramanga with the ‘anti Fico’ strategy, to provoke violence. Isn’t it then that not everything goes? Since when is everything valid for you? Fair play please. No more violence”, he questioned.
After this claim, the former governor of Antioquia responded that his campaign does not incite violence nor does he have “errand boys” to insult citizens. However, he stressed that everyone has a “right to ask” regarding the challenged allies of the applicants.
“Federico: our campaign does not incite violence or intolerance. Here there are no errand boys, winemakers, and there are no people who insult others. Of course, any citizen has the right to ask regarding some of your allies who are convicted of corruption,” Fajardo said.
Ávila also met this discussion and assured that no one sent him to the Gutiérrez event, and clarified that he was present at the public activity to denounce the alleged links of the campaign of the former mayor of the Paisa capital with political clans from Santander.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, no one sent me. You are allied with the four most corrupt clans in Santander and it hurts that I denounce you. The Aguilar, Villamizar, Tavera and Anaya. It is not a dirty war, it is to demonstrate that you are allied with corruption and patronage”, stated Ávila.
The closeness that Gutiérrez and Fajardo have had for years has been affected by the presidential contest, since both have made accusations and public claims with the aim of appearing in the current contest, facing the first round of March 13.
