Former Colombian president and leader of the right-wing Democratic Center party, Alvaro Uribeannounced this Friday that accept the invitation made by the elected head of state, Gustavo Petroto speak within the framework of the “great national agreement”.
“I appreciate President Gustavo Petro’s invitation. I will attend the meeting on behalf of the Democratic Center. They are different views of the same country,” said the president, in a message on his personal Twitter profile.
Petro’s response, also through that social network, came a few hours later: “Welcome to the era of dialogue that is the basis of all humanity”.
“I appreciate the positive response of former President Uribe and I am sure that Colombia will appreciate that we find common ground for a common homeland,” the president-elect wrote.
A shadow
Uribe was in the shadows during these presidential elections, and it was only known that for the first round he supported Federico Gutierrez, but he stood aside when it came to the campaign.
On Thursday, during the delivery of the credential that endorses him as President-elect, Petro publicly invited Uribe, as well as his rival in the runoff, the now senator Rodolfo Hernandezto meet and talk about the changes that the country requires.
“Symbolically, I have invited Rodolfo Hernández, my opponent, and invited Álvaro Uribe, whom I have opposed during this century, to speak with me about the country’s issues,” Petro said in his speech.
The new President proposed opening a space for dialogue so that politicians, civil society, businessmen and the country at the regional level discuss the changes that are required, from a nationalist perspective, and on fundamental issues.
“Dialogues to build the paths of transformation in Colombia, it is not to continue as we are, but to change, what must be changed,” said the new president, who outlined that these approaches would seek to “end the violence,” with “the high levels of social injustice” and with “the immense levels of degradation of nature and the environment”.