The opposition Social Democrat candidate, who is considered the dominant candidate in this month’s presidential election in Colombia, canceled his pre-election appearance in the central Andean country on Monday, because his team received information about a possible assassination attempt on this trip.
Senator Gustavo Petro, 62, ahead of the May 29 first round poll, was due to make an appearance tomorrow, Wednesday, and the day after Thursday, as part of his campaign in the center-west, known for coffee production.
However, “his security received first-hand information from several sources according to which the criminal organization ‘La Cordillera’ was preparing an assassination attempt on the candidate”, said a press release of the group that is conducting Mr. Petros’ election campaign.
Cordillera is a “paramilitary organization” that is “involved in drug trafficking” and “commits custom killings,” the statement said.
Colombian police have not commented on the announcement so far.
Mr. Petros, a former rebel of the far-left Movement of April 19 (Movimiento 19 de Abril, M-19) who became a Social Democrat, former mayor of the capital (2012-2015), has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the start of the election campaign. his safety.
Strictly guarded, the candidate of the Colombian Left Alliance Historical Alliance (Pacto Histórico por Colombia, PHxC) is campaigning intensively online and with daily campaign appearances across the country.
A poll released last week found Mr Petros winning by a wide margin (with 43.6% of first-round votes against 26.7% of his nearest right-wing rival, Federico Gutierrez), or in the first round. or to the second if necessary. If that happens, he will be the first president of the left in a country that has historically known only right-wing governments.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
