Although the president was to discuss pensions at Asofundos, he spoke instead about politics. The surprise interruption was made by a elected congressman.
President Ivan Duque’s closing remarks at the Asofondos congress of Cartagena did not go as per the plan. Instead Duque spoke about politics and the ways in which. He criticized Gustavo Petro for using his seat to criticize the army, and also criticized the fact his dual status as a candidate and a congressman.
When Duvalier Sanchez, the Valle del Cauca representative chosen by the Green Alliance party to the Chamber stopped him to inquire what he was up to following the sound of General Eduardo Zapateiro’s remarks against presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, he had just started the greetings.
“Article 219. of the Constitution prohibits the military from taking part in any political debate, taking sides, or engaging in the democratic debate.” The whole country is in chaos. It’s a critical moment and what General Zapateiro did,” Sanchez stated as the phone was raised to broadcast all that was happening on his Facebook page.
The president reacted to the commotion with a strong defense of Zapateiro. He said that any person who has accusations against public force personnel should face trial.
President Duque did not stop there and took the opportunity to denounce Petro’s dual role today as a congressman and head of the opposition and as a candidate.
“Who made the accusations?” A senator or an individual candidate? ” petro gustavo resigned from Congress following my victory in the popular consultation to be able to freely express my opinions as a candidate, and not to wear the double-hat in order to make use of seats to attack others and after institutions react, to present me as a victim, because it isn’t democratic,” said the president.
Sanchez tried to keep up with the controversy , but was deterred by President Obama who demanded Sanchez comply with the rules.
What happened when Petro and Zapateiro do battle?
Petro sent the message below via his networks on April 20. “While the soldiers are being murdered by the Gulf Clan, some of generals are on clan’s payroll. ” http://y8space.com/members-2/gustavo-petroorlh193/activity/3003122/ within the top ranks is a result of when drug trafficking politicians end-up being promoted to generals,” said the presidential candidate.
On Friday, Zapateiro responded in the same manner: “Senator, do not make use of your investiture (parliamentary inviolability) to pretend to politicize the deaths of our soldiers. Instead, do your duty as a citizen by filing a providing a substantiated report to the Prosecutor’s Office of the facts that you mention, whoever you are.”