Fico Gutierrez: There is a risk of him becoming "Uribe's presidential candidate."
Since the night of Sunday, Federico Fico Gutierrez was the most consistent presidential contender for Colombia. https://elpais.com/internacional/2022-03-14/fico-gutierrez-y-el-riesgo-de-reconocerse-como-el-candidato-de-uribe.html This isn't his first time appearing in an electoral roll. Fico Gutierrez He was previously a councilor and mayor in Medellin. His first test during a national election in which he got more than 2 million votes in the Team for Colombia coalition, made him the preferred candidate of conservative movements. Fico (47 years old) is currently the primary opposition of Gustavo Petro. His victory with the Historic Pact movement made him one of the most prominent political figures in Colombia.
The presidential election is just getting underway. The way the former mayor from Medellin will be able to fight petrismo and form alliances and negotiate with foreign countries will determine the success of his campaign. He won't just have to unite all the right under his banner, but he will also have to conquer some of the centrist electorate that has been, as of Sunday, broken and lacking in leadership. To accomplish this, he will have to keep from appearing in the same photograph as Alvaro Umribe. This is what he did so far. For the first time in 20 years, the public support of uribism, instead of adding, could subtract. "Federico Gutierrez faces a dilemma. He is required to make an alliance, Uribe's side, with the Democratic Center. However, he has to convince Uribe and the center, which is the one to determine its direction," Yann basset, analyst at the University of Rosario.
On the way to an alliance with the CD in the region where uribism is a major issue on Monday, Fico has already achieved its first conquest. Oscar Ivan Zuluaga the former presidential candidate, decided to step down, recognized his limited options for competing with him and offer his support. It will be interesting to see if the whole Uribismo group, which was left without a representative since Monday, is willing to offer its support. Particularly, in the event that Uribe gives his support openly and attempts to convince his electorate with the most basic concerns of the Colombian right, something that will not be so difficult for Uribe. The speech he delivered of "security", "order", "opportunities" and "love of the fatherland" already showed him that he adds votes. He confirmed this on Sunday during the consultation on electoral reform, as he did previously during his time at Antioquia’s office of the mayor, where there was also a name for him: the sheriff of Medellin. On a recent visit to Arauca (an region that has been particularly hit by violence) Fico said "The bandits are in prison or in graves." Fico is aware of what the Colombian right likes however it won't be enough for him.
Basset declares, "We aren't in 2018 in a time when fear of the Left worked well." Basset points out that Fico might not get Uribe's blessing, because Alvaro Uribe is no longer a holder of the title of leader absolute from 2002, when the country chose him as president. But this does not mean that Uribismo's votes Uribismo regardless of whether they are not in the top tier aren't important to Gutierrez like what happened on Sunday, or in his first effort to gain access to the office of the mayor of Medellin and the city of Medellin, where Uribe was a supporter of him, even more than the candidate of his party. "This victory (winning in the coalition) is in part because of Uribism. Basset is now warning that his capability in negotiations will be measured. Andres Mesjia Vergnaud analyst commenting on Fico's ties with former president Uribe: "The great difficulty of Federico Gutierrez's desire to win the support of Uribismo but without the photo of Uribe, because it doesn't fit him to be his candidate."
Fico Gutierrez While on the left there's only one leader, Gustavo Petro, on the right, there's a man who is heading towards the presidential elections until Fico - - again, in the event that he is able to negotiate - convinces him to resign and offer him support. Rodolfo Hernández, who was independent, is still running. Gutierrez must include the achievements of the former mayor of Bucaramanga and billionaire builder, Rodolfo Hernandez if he will fight against petrismo.
Gutierrez has plenty of work to do before he even considers the names of his presidential formula. However, what Gutierrez has already is the support from the other candidates for the presidency of the Team for Colombia alliance. https://www.eluniversal.com.co/politica/conozca-a-fico-gutierrez-candidato-de-equipo-por-colombia-a-la-presidencia-AX6257332 It's not just little. The two ex-mayors, Enrique Penalosa of Bogota and Alex Char of Barranquilla; the leader of the Conservative party David Barguil and Aydee Zarazo who is an Christian party leader, who are judiciously voting following the directions from the lectern in his church.
The Conservative Party was strengthened, and it won the largest right-wing vote with over 2 million votes. The Conservative Party also enjoys the support of the U Party. http://www.elnuevosiglo.com.co/articulos/12-09-2021-federico-gutierrez-entrego-1400000-firmas-para-avalar-su-candidatura-la This party had an outstanding legislative vote with just over 1 million votes. Oscar Ivan Zuluaga supported Fico, and he didn't wait long after Sunday's elections to accept his defeat in the face of a possible clash with the votes of the right. But this also gives Fico an extra push in a segment of conservatism but keeps him far from the middle. According to Alvaro Uribe, former president, Fico will have to decide if he is willing to take a risk at the center in order to enjoy the opportunity to be fortunate recipient of Uribe's blessings. Fico Gutierrez