The former president and current head of the Democratic Center, Alvaro Uribe; and the official candidate of that party, Oscar Ivan Zuluagaresponded this Friday night to the statements of former congresswoman Aida Merlano.
Uribe published a statement entitled ‘Manipulation of the dictatorship of Venezuela’, in which it is mentioned that “Maduro adds Mrs. Merlano to the list of people, fugitives from justice, who have been manipulated into testifying once morest former president Álvaro Uribe Velez”.
(Read also: In the Merlano case, the Court certified copies once morest Duque, Santos and Uribe)
According to the statement, Rafael García, Major Juan Carlos Meneses and others are part of that list.
It also establishes three points: first, it assures that Uribe barely exchanged greetings and few words with Merlano during the sessions of Congress. Second, that the political campaigns of the head of Uribismo have been financed with
transparent resources. Third, that Álvaro Uribe will continue to give his opinion once morest the Venezuelan regime.
I have never had a political or personal relationship with members of House Char or House Gerlein.
For his part, Óscar Iván Zuluaga indicated that he will denounce former congresswoman Aida Merlano for libel and slander.
The foregoing, following this newspaper published -exclusively- that the Supreme Court of Justice sent copies of the controversial statement of former congresswoman Aida Merlano Rebolledo, convicted of electoral corruption and today a fugitive from justice, to the Attorney General’s Office and the Commission of Investigation and Accusation of the House of Representatives, so that the investigations that are considered pertinent can be carried out.
EL TIEMPO learned of the order from the Investigation Chamber in which 19 names are listed that were mentioned by the former congresswoman. Among them are the President of the Republic, Iván Duque Márquez, and former presidents Juan Manuel Santos and Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
“The convicted Aída Merlano would have told the judicial authorities that money from the Char and Gerlein houses illegally entered my presidential campaign in 2014. I categorically deny that money from said origin entered my campaign in 2014, which has been thoroughly investigated. for nearly 8 years without any irregularity having been found, because there was none,” the statement said.
(read also: Aida Merlano splashes Álex Char in a statement before the Supreme Court)
I don’t know Mrs. Merlano. I never exchanged a word with her, neither in person nor on the phone.
Zuluaga points out: “I don’t know Mrs. Merlano. I never exchanged a word with her, neither in person, nor on the phone.
“I have never had a political or personal relationship with members of House Char or House Gerlein. Both families and their political groups openly supported Juan Manuel Santos in 2014, who was my adversary. Neither the Democratic Center nor I have been allies of any kind with any of these groups”, he adds.
(In other news: ‘I put $12,000 million for your election’: Julio Gerlein to Aida Merlano)
Zuluaga points out that the facts for which Merlano is being investigated are related to his candidacy for the Senate in 2018, the year in which he was not a candidate.
“I assure the country that Mrs. Merlano did not present nor will she be able to present any evidence once morest me or my campaigns because it does not exist. Her statement is completely false,” she stated.
ELTIEMPO.COM
