Since the night of Sunday, Federico Fico Gutierrez was the most consistent presidential candidate for Colombia. While it’s not the first time his name is on an electoral card – he was a councilor and mayor of Medellin the city he was elected to represent – but his first time in a presidential election that he won more than two million votes inside the Team for Colombia coalition, they place him as a desired candidate of the conservative parties or those who are scared when they think of an open-minded presidency. Fico (47-year-old Fico), who is his name is the principal rival of Gustavo Petro. He was in the Historic Pact, one of three winners in the election which determined who would be the three most powerful forces in politics.
The presidential campaign is only starting. If the former mayor of Medellin can be the true anti-porrismo force depends on the alliances and negotiations he makes in the coming days. He won’t just have to unite all of the right under his banner however, he must also to win over a portion of the population of the center, who was deflated on Sunday and without an impressive leadership. He will have to steer clear of his record of been, from being photographed alongside Alvaro Uribe. Today’s public support for uribism is the first in 20 years. Instead of adding, it could subtract. “Federico Gutierrez faces a dilemma. He must form an alliance to the Democratic Center (CD), Uribe’s political party. But he must also convince the center, which is to decide on where the alliance goes,” Yann Basset from the University of Rosario, analyst and professor.
In the process of forming joining forces with the CD, in which uribism is the most prevalent issue, this Monday Fico has already won its first victory. The candidate of that party up until Monday, former president candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, took his leave, acknowledged his few chances of competing with him, and gave his support. The next step is to examine if the whole Uribismo group – that is without an elected representative follows suit. Uribe is expected to accept his supporters and try to convince his voters by addressing the traditional issues of Colombian right. This shouldn’t be difficult. The speech he delivered of “security” and ‘order opportunities’ and ‘love for fatherland’ already showed that Uribe has the ability to increase votes. He confirmed it on Sunday by participating in the election consultation similar to what he did during his time at the office of the mayor in the capital of Antioquia and was famous as the sheriff of Medellin. “The bandits are in prison or in a grave”” he said recently on a visit to Arauca, an area especially affected by violence. Fico is well-versed in the Colombian legal system, but this will not be enough.
Basset declares, “We aren’t in 2018, when the fear of the Left was working well.” According to the analyst the fact that the figure of Alvaro Uribe is not that of the absolute leader that the nation had in 2002, when Uribe was elected president for the first time. Also, that his political party that is the CD, is going through a difficult time which could result in Fico not receive at the very least, Uribe’s blessing. While Uribismo isn’t in the running however, that does not mean Gutierrez isn’t able to count on the votes of Uribismo. Uribism is also responsible for this victory within the coalition. Basset warns now that his negotiation skills will be evaluated. Andres Mejia vergnaud, an analyst, discusses the relationship between Fico and former president. “The biggest problem for Federico Gutierrez, however, is that he would like Uribismo’s vote however, he doesn’t want Uribe’s picture because it doesn’t suit him to be his choice.”
Gustavo Petro, the leader of the left is the only person who can lead, but Gustavo Petro, the leader of the right, is heading for the presidency. Unless Fico is able to convince him – should this be possible – convinces him to stay away and back his. Rodolfo Hernandez, who ran independently, is still running. Gutierrez should include in his list former Mayor Bucaramanga, a billionaire construction company owner who managed to win in polls due to his speech against corruption in a humorous voice.
Gutierrez has plenty to sit down to negotiate before even considering names for his potential presidential strategy however, what he has is the backing of the other candidates competing for the top spot in the Team for Colombia coalition. It’s not too much. The two former mayors, Enrique Penalosa of Bogota and Alex Char of Barranquilla; the leader of the Conservative party David Barguil and Aydee Zarazo Aydee Zarazo, an Christian party leader who make their decisions judiciously, following the directions from the lectern in his church.
The Conservative Party has been strengthened – it received the largest vote from right-wing forces with more than two million votes. Additionally the U Party has shown sympathy for the Conservative Party. They also had an outstanding vote, less than one million votes, for the legislative. Oscar Ivan Zuluaga supported Fico, and he didn’t wait for too long after the elections on Sunday to concede defeat ahead of a potential clash with the votes of the right. However, this provides Fico an extra boost in a segment of conservatism and keeps him farther from the center. https://coub.com/fico-gutierrezprqv135 (ex-President) summoned his party to a gathering on Monday, to see if Fico is willing to risk his chance of gaining a seat in the center in return for being openly granted a blessing by Uribe.