Colombian Ex-Leader Pays Tribute to Slain Presidential Hopeful
Echoes of violence: Uribe Honors Slain Politician Amidst Rising Security Fears in Colombia
BOGOTA,Colombia – In a somber ceremony punctuated by tight security,former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe paid tribute Saturday to Miguel Uribe Turbay,the presidential hopeful whose assassination has reignited fears of political violence in the nation. The memorial took place at the Bogotá park where Uribe Turbay was gunned down in June, a stark reminder of the fragility of peace as Colombia approaches the 2026 presidential election.
Miguel Uribe Turbay, a 39-year-old politician from the same political party as the former president, was shot in the back while delivering a campaign speech. He succumbed to his injuries in August after two months in intensive care, marking a chilling return to a dark chapter in Colombian history – the assassination of a presidential candidate, a tragedy unseen for three decades. Following his son’s death, Miguel Uribe Londoño announced he would run for president in his place.
“May this place symbolize an eternal flame, like Miguel’s eternal love for Colombia,” Uribe declared, standing beside a photo of Uribe Turbay. “May those who pass through this place find that Miguel inspires the security needed for peace to come one day.”
The event underscored the heightened security concerns gripping Colombia. Former President Uribe, currently appealing a 12-year sentence for witness tampering and fraud, was heavily guarded. Streets were closed, drones surveyed the park, and armed police officers kept watch from rooftops, a visible display of the anxieties surrounding the upcoming elections.
Vilma Ramírez, a local resident who joined the crowd of approximately 200 mourners, voiced a sentiment shared by many: “If Miguelito Uribe had had this kind of security, he wouldn’t have been killed,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
The assassination has sparked a national debate about preventing a resurgence of conflict. Uribe, who governed from 2002 to 2010, is seeking to influence the upcoming elections and bolster the country’s right wing. His legacy is complex. while he is credited with weakening the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), he also faces accusations of human rights abuses during his tenure.Uribe and members of his Democratic Center party are demanding a thorough inquiry into Uribe Turbay’s death. Six suspects are currently in custody, including a minor alleged to be the shooter. Authorities are exploring the possibility of involvement by FARC dissidents, a faction that emerged from the now-defunct rebel group.
“Here the assassin, with drugs, money, and a chain of intellectual authors and instigators, took Miguel from us,” Uribe stated, surrounded by his party members.
The shadow of violence looms large over Colombia as it prepares for the 2026 elections. The assassination of Miguel Uribe Turbay serves as a stark reminder of the challenges the nation faces in consolidating peace and ensuring the safety of its political leaders, particularly amidst growing discontent with current President Gustavo Petro