BOGOTA, Colombia — In a dramatic political development, Miguel Uribe Londoño, the 73-year-old father of assassinated presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, has declared his candidacy for Colombia’s presidency. The announcement came Tuesday during a campaign event in Bogota where the grieving father vowed to champion his son’s political vision despite having severed ties with the Democratic Center party originally founded by his family.
Uribe Londoño emotionally addressed supporters, stating, “Today I tell the world that my son is the one who should be here. He was killed so that no one would make the bad guys uncomfortable… but Miguel lives.” He will represent Democratic Colombia, a minor political party initially established to advocate for Afro-Colombian rights that currently holds one congressional seat.
The senior Uribe’s presidential bid follows a fractured relationship with the Democratic Center leadership after rumors surfaced that he might support an independent candidate if not selected as the party’s nominee. This disagreement prompted his resignation from the party he helped establish over a decade ago.
This development occurs within Colombia’s increasingly crowded presidential field, where more than two dozen candidates are competing ahead of interparty primaries scheduled for early March. Current polling shows Ivan Cepeda from President Gustavo Petro’s left-wing Historical Pact coalition leading, followed by ultraconservative lawyer Abelardo de La Espriella, who has promised iron-fisted policies against criminal groups. President Petro is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection.
The backdrop to this political story remains the tragic assassination of Miguel Uribe Turbay, who was shot multiple times during a campaign rally last year and succumbed to his injuries after two months in intensive care. His killing represented a significant setback for a nation that has made substantial progress in reducing political violence through peace agreements, including the 2016 deal with FARC rebels.
While Colombian authorities have made several arrests in connection with the assassination, including a teenager, the masterminds and motivations behind the attack remain undetermined. Official investigations have suggested possible involvement by Segunda Marquetalia, a rebel group led by former FARC members. The late Uribe Turbay had been an outspoken critic of drug trafficking organizations and had promised to increase military pressure on rebel groups engaged in peace talks with the current administration.