'We must end all the profits that drug traffickers enjoy': David Luna

David Luna, presidential candidate, insists on the priority of unity. "We will have to reduce government costs, no matter what, so we will have to talk to the opposition to achieve some political peace."

I believe that all of us candidates who have been serious and decent, but firm, in the opposition should establish a set of rules to compete among ourselves through a referendum or a poll, so that we can arrive united in the first round. We must win, because unfortunately, the Petro government's collusion with illegal groups, who are 100% dedicated to drug trafficking, dominate a million votes from the start.

Exactly the same thing the Historic Pact is doing; but they've demonized it, because they say it's a unity "against someone." No, it's a proposal from those of us who represent a different way of thinking, governing, and acting. We need to reduce vanity and egos. If one is leading the way, then let the others help, but if not, I'm ready to carry the burden for whoever it may concern.

We need to agree on a mechanism to elect one or two candidates to run in March. This way, we can filter and understand who has the potential to win. In this, we must be supportive and very generous in reaching an agreement, because, I repeat, drug trafficking in Colombia today controls a million votes, which will be decisive in the second round. And this drug trafficking is led by Maduro and the Cartel of the Suns.

Maduro is going to fall, and don't rule out the possibility that his current allies will hand him over. Clearly, the US doesn't mobilize ships and troops for no reason. They know perfectly well that the Colombian drug and cocaine trafficking route currently has Venezuela as its main outlet, which is why it's the binational zone.

One would hope that President Petro's government fully understands that this is Maduro's problem and that, under no circumstances, can he involve us in a war simply for ideological reasons. Petro must be asked if his interest in protecting Maduro is out of loyalty, identity, or complicity. The torture of Colombians imprisoned in Venezuela for political reasons is appalling. And the Colombian government remains silent; nor does its Foreign Ministry... It's inevitable that the Venezuela issue will politically influence the elections in Colombia.

I think it was done precisely to get rid of cocaine, but we're kind of numb. Thirty years ago, drug trafficking was killing police officers, journalists, politicians, and today it's doing exactly the same. That's why all of society needs to form a united front again. We need to understand that drug trafficking is back to ravage us; it's already killed a presidential candidate, and it's killing social, environmental, and student leaders.

And now with the government's tolerance. The ELN is a gang of drug traffickers, just like the FARC dissidents and the Gulf Clan. Drug trafficking is becoming an actor that destabilizes the country to maintain this status quo. That's why they're being taken to La Alpujarra… I was a speaker on the first bill for submission to justice, which we managed to defeat, because it said that there could be releases for drug traffickers and terrorists. Now the discussion of version 2.0 begins; the drug traffickers want to take over politics, and we can't tolerate it.

Immediately end all the profits enjoyed by drug traffickers. I believe they are solely responsible for the current insecurity. We must pursue them head-on. During Pablo Escobar's time, Colombia produced 100 tons of cocaine; today, we produce 3,000 tons.

Terrifying. An absurd violation of human rights instrumentalized by a drug cartel. The statement from the High Commissioner's office was very pusillanimous in this regard, rejecting the act but ordering continued talks with that drug trafficking organization. Petro opened the door to negotiations with drug traffickers and their release. That's what has us in trouble today. And since so much cocaine is produced and not all of it can be exported, a remainder is poisoning children in schools with so-called micro-trafficking. It's drug trafficking, pure and simple.

When Mr. Carvajal won, or when Dr. Polo won, or when Mr. Fernández won, that was a "triumph of democracy." But when Petro lost, it was because of racism. No. It was because people understood that he was indeed interested in pursuing a reelection, hence the President's interest in controlling the Constitutional Court and Congress, where he has bought consciences, as demonstrated by the request for the resignation of the ministers. Let them not think we are such fools.

Yes. They are for the Government and, in particular, for Minister Benedetti.

Well, the President must have also asked Benedetti to resign. And, by the way, the Minister of Health. Last week I was in Duitama, Chiquinquirá, Tunja; you can't imagine people begging for medication, insulin. That's dramatic.

I didn't make this up. The Liberal Party recommended him to me when he wasn't a Petrista, and he did his homework properly. But he was a terrible mayor of Medellín, and regarding his current campaign, I think we need to make proposals and not fuel hatred, much less politicking.

It's urgent to send a message of confidence that the State will restore patient care. To achieve this, we must allow the funds in the banks to flow and be used to pay doctors, nurses, and medications. The incredible thing is that, for political reasons, to establish the narrative of the need for health reform, patients are dying because the minister doesn't allocate funds to the EPSs, hospitals, clinics, or health centers. This is a very complex problem that must be resolved first with common sense and prudence, and second, with managerial action.

I'm 50 years old now, and I'm ready. Of those, I've been in public service for 28 of those years. I started at the bottom; I know perfectly well how the state works, how decisions are made, and what kind of character is required. Experience is fundamental for the next leader; but so is political dialogue. If a candidate bases his campaign on insulting those who think differently, how will he later succeed in building a relationship with someone who will oppose him in a normal and logical way?

We are in the hands of an irresponsible father, who spends more than he earns. He's a heartless father, who borrows more than everyone else in the neighborhood. And he's a very disorganized father, who seeks, through contracts and cronyism, to influence the electoral process. Colombia has a fat state, and if it doesn't slim down, it's going to explode. We need an austere state, capable of saving at least 50 billion pesos.

I created my own table with data from Reuters, the OECD, Anif, and Fedesarrollo. I conclude that 18 trillion pesos could be cut in bureaucracy and poorly targeted subsidies. In some cases, a family, unnecessarily, is receiving a double subsidy, a saving of 15 trillion pesos. In unnecessary contractors, 4 trillion pesos could be saved. In duplicate programs, 3 trillion pesos. And in unexecuted investment, 10 trillion pesos. That amounts to 50 trillion pesos. This shows that we don't need a tax reform, but rather a need to tighten our belts. The presentation of this tax reform is irresponsible. As president, I will commit to not submitting an additional reform in the next four years, because with this saving of 50 trillion pesos, we will recover the investment grade and generate employment and formalization. By establishing the key regional projects, we can freeze the budget between the 26th and 30th, and with the same amount of money, do more.

Because presidents, I believe, have a way of understanding politics when they start their administrations. I believe one should only commit to what one is capable of delivering. Look at what it cost Petro for breaking his promise to the students to forgive Icetex loans... Ultimately, as a human being, the only asset you have is your name. You can be a good, average, or bad president, but what you can't be is a liar. I believe Colombia is capable, with these annual savings of 50 billion, of creating a period of at least four years in which tax reforms are not processed, and that is my commitment.

It's an absurd, unnecessary reform. I'm sure it won't pass Congress. It's disrespectful, lacking in sensitivity and empathy to say, for example, that gasoline isn't important for the poor. I ask the citizen: Does the left pay for your electricity? Does the right pay for your water? Does the center pay for your food? No. The citizen pays for it with his or her work. Ideology in itself doesn't solve problems. Leaders must make decisions with the people in mind, not their political success.

He will have to deal with at least four major crises: security, which has to do with drug trafficking; fiscal policy; health care; and energy. That's why political dialogue will be so important. Some criticized me because, on a billboard during my campaign, I attributed a virtue to my competitors by including María José Pizarro. They asked me if I wanted to form a coalition with the Historic Pact. No. But if I'm president, she will surely be the leader of the opposition. And since state costs will have to be reduced, no matter what, it's time to talk with the opposition to achieve some political peace. What does unity also mean? We need the best minds serving in the state, to make the best decisions. Many people say Luna's is the best campaign; Luna has the best proposals; he's a man with experience...

It's absurd that they've banned them. I sued for that article. I started in February at 1%, and in the last one they published, I was already in the middle of the pack. I want to tell people that for the first time, we should look for candidates we like, who are capable of governing, and who see me as an option. Yes, it's frustrating not to be in the 10th or 11th place, like others, but there's still time and I'm working hard. I hope to be in the 10th or 20th place by December. Every day in politics is like a month, so you have to grow slowly but steadily.