Supporters of Medellin mayoral candidate Luis Perez, whom current Mayor Alonso Salazar accused of using paramilitary groups and criminal gangs in his election campaigns, attacked Salazar’s allegations and denied alleged photographic proof of Perez collaborating with criminals.
W Radio reported that a group of Luis Perez supporters, which includes the adviser to former President Alvaro Uribe and columnist for newspaper El Tiempo Jose Obdulio Gaviria, announced they will sue Salazar for personal injury and defamation.
Salazar alleged that Perez’s current campaign was being closely supported by demobilized paramilitary Efrain Maldonado, alias “Don Efra” or “El Viejo.”
Salazar also handed the media photographs of Perez at a meeting last month alongside public figures with alleged links to criminal gangs.
Gaviria explained that there are no investigations against Perez and claimed that the people pictured with Perez in the photographs do not have ties to illegal groups.
The former Uribe adviser added that an association of victims of Salazar should unite against the mayor and join Gaviria to help take disciplinary action against him.
Salazar explained that he was aware he could be investigated for interfering in elections while in public office but said, “I am not going to sit on my hands, even though they could investigate.”