Through social networks, the presidential candidates Gustavo Petro and Federico Gutiérrez had a discussion that began with a tweet from Petro about several soldiers who have been killed by the Clan del Golfo.
Via Twitter, Petro wrote: “While the soldiers are killed by the Gulf Clan, some of the generals are on the Clan’s payroll”in response to Alexander Chala Saenz, also a member of the Army, currently retired, who had previously stated that six soldiers were killed in Antioquia and five wounded at the hands of the armed group.
To the above, General Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro put together a thread on the same social network in which he was dispatched against the candidate of Human Colombia.
First, Zapateiro shared a heartfelt message in which he wrote that no one knows how much the pain of the death of a soldier weighs more than those who wear the uniform of the armed institution of the Government, without leaving aside the families and the Homeland. Indeed, for the commander of the Army, Petro is taking advantage of the situation and in view of this he attacked him saying that “the supreme sacrifice for the country should not be used in political campaign narratives”.
Likewise, General Eduardo Zapateiro asked the also economist not to generalize and respect: “As a senator, you are part of the group that you dare to point out as “drug trafficking politicians.” As a citizen I recommend you not to generalize. respect above all”, reads the Twitter thread.
After a few hours, Gustavo Petro’s competitor on the road to the Presidency of the Republic, Federico Gutiérrez, also wrote on his official Twitter account that he was outraged by the double standards of some political sectors and expressed his support for the Armed Forces. from Colombia.
“It impresses me that a trill from a military man is more outrageous than the dozens of policemen and soldiers who have been murdered in the last week.. The double standard of some political sectors of the country is impressive. They don’t even feel sorry anymore! I support our military forces,” he wrote.
The discussion did not end there, minutes later Petro returned to his social networks and responded to the former mayor of Medellín, also called ‘Fico’, bringing up the Political Constitution of Colombia.
“You must enforce the Colombian Constitution. Without institutions, there is no democracy,” said Gustavo Petro.
In addition to the above, the former mayor of Bogotá continued in the discussion “explaining” to Federico Gutiérrez that the Constitution orders that the Forces should not participate in politics and the President must enforce said norm.
“A ver, le explicae candidate; there is a Constitution and the president swears to respect it. So if the Constitution orders that the public force not be deliberative and not participate in the electoral debate, the president must enforce that mandate. Respect the Constitution!” Petro asserted.
Apparently, the candidate refers to chapter 7 of the Political Constitution, in article 219, it is stated: “The Public Force is not deliberative; may not meet except by order of legitimate authority, nor direct petitions, except on matters related to the service and morality of the respective body and in accordance with the law. Members of the Public Force may not exercise the function of suffrage while they remain in active service, nor intervene in activities or debates of political parties or movements.”.
So far, Gutiérrez has not commented on what his opponent from Human Colombia said.