Spanish
On Saturday, June 7th, in the country, the 2026 presidential race, which began early this year, suffered a setback following the serious attack on Senator and pre-candidate of the Democratic Center Miguel Uribe Turbay, who was the victim while at a political event in the traditional Modelia sector in the west of Bogotá.
During the afternoon of this fateful date, the congressman was shot in the back by a teenager on repeated occasions, causing him serious injuries to the head and one of his legs, which have him fighting for his life at the Santa Fe Foundation, where he underwent two complex cerebrovascular surgical interventions, which he survived, according to his own wife, María Claudia Tarazona.
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“It is vital for me to have your presence. I have felt accompanied (...) Miguel came out of surgery. He made it!”, she said in a moving moment in the waiting room of the renowned medical center, where the family and political associates of the congressman were gathered, as well as some public servants, such as the Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán.
“Here are some people responsible, material authors, and there is a person captured, as they have told us (...) There is a truth that the country needs to know, but there is also a political figure responsible and today I tell you here: the first political figure responsible is President Gustavo Petro because he has promoted an environment of violence, an environment that is bringing us blood and pain,” stated the right-wing favorite to reach the Casa de Nariño in a short dialogue with journalists.
He recalled that the president has repeatedly pointed out to politicians who do not think like him, which has been the breeding ground for the nascent political violence that marks this attempted assassination.“That's what's happening to us today with all their digital hitmen on social media. He called us Nazis, he calls us mafia dolls, he calls us corrupt. That's what the president has done. Even tonight his speech is pathetic, it's shameful. He has to rise to the occasion,” he reproached.
In his statements, he demanded that the head of state immediately guarantee the safety of the pre-candidate and his family, following the insane attack against him, as well as the rest of the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic.“May he protect Miguel Uribe and his family! May he protect the presidential candidates! May he protect our families! May he allow us to conduct a campaign as Democracy dictates! May he grant us all the guarantees! He had them when he was in opposition: they protected his life, his family, and he was able to become President of Colombia. He cannot be inferior to the circumstances,” he reiterated.
Finally, she urged the international community to keep an eye on Colombia in light of the electoral violence that is looming after the attack on the senator of the Democratic Center, which for her was a complete setback to the most critical moments of recent history.
“Please, keep your eyes on Colombia, we need you to help us, to take care of us, to protect us. May Colombia come out of this horrible night,” he asserted.
