Alejandro Gaviria criticizes Gustavo Petro's message regarding the attack on Miguel Uribe: "Unworthy of a President."

Former Education Minister and presidential candidate Alejandro Gaviria reacted to President Gustavo Petro's message regarding the attack on Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay in Bogotá this Saturday, June 7.

Through his account on the social network X, President Petro referred to the attack with the following message:

"Oh!" Colombia and its eternal violence. They want to kill the son of an Arab woman in Bogotá, whom they had already murdered, and one should not kill in the heart of the world. They kill the son and the mother. Respect life, that is the red line. Colombia should not kill its children, because they are also our children. Mafias of the land, scabs of humanity. May the Arab families who came to Colombia live in peace. Colombia welcomes the world, and does not kill those who come from all corners of the planet. My solidarity with the Uribe family and the Turbay family. I don't know how to ease their pain. It is the pain of a lost mother and homeland.

In response to this post by the Head of State, Gaviria stated on the same social media platform: "An indolent, senseless message, unworthy of a president or any political leader. It produces anger and dismay."

Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay remains at the Santa Fe Foundation, where he was transferred from the Medicentro clinic, located near the site of the attack.

Uribe's health is critical. However, he arrived at the Santa Fe Foundation conscious and with stable vital signs.

It's worth remembering that Gaviria and President Petro were friends and allies three years ago, following the latter's election to the Presidency. In fact, Gaviria was appointed by President Petro to the Ministry of Education.

After the economist left office in February 2023, after seven months in office, he began distancing himself from President Petro, primarily on issues related to health reform. Gaviria served as Minister of Health in Juan Manuel Santos' administration.

President Gustavo Petro canceled his planned trip to France this Saturday following the serious attack on Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay in Bogotá.

The president was scheduled to travel on the evening of June 7th to participate in a UN meeting on the oceans. His attendance has been canceled.

The decision was confirmed in a press release issued by the Presidency of the Republic. "The seriousness of the events and the commitment of the National Government to defending institutions and protecting all democratic actors in the country require the immediate presence of the Head of State and his government team in the country," they stated.

In the message, they added that President Petro gave instructions to "prioritize all necessary institutional actions to guarantee security, clarify the facts, and strengthen confidence in the rule of law."

LATEST NEWS EDITORIAL