A planned televised debate between running mates in Colombia’s presidential elections became a live monologue on Thursday as only one candidate vice-president showed up for the broadcast.
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The lone vice-presidential hopeful who did show up was the leftist Aida Avella, running mate of Clara Lopez of the Democratic Pole party.
The running mates of all other four candidates failed to appear at the broadcast, leaving Avella the only one to talk.
According to newspaper El Espectador, the government’s candidate, German Vargas, and the running mate of the centrist never accepted the invitation for the debate, while the VP candidates for the Conservative Party and the Democratic Center of former President Alvaro Uribe failed to keep their word about showing up.
Moderator Judith Sarmiento told viewers all candidates had confirmed their presence.
The debate was the second to fail this week; A planned televised debate between presidential candidates on Wednesday was canceled for “logistical” reasons after incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos, and competitors Oscar Ivan Zuluaga and Marta Lucia Ramirez also shined by absence.
MORE: Colombia’s 1st Televised Election Debate Canceled As Santos And Zuluaga Bail Out
Avella condemned her opponents’ failure to assist in the debate.
“I don’t know what happened with the rest, but it seems a lack of primarily responsibility,” said the socialist candidate, adding that her opponents’ failure to show up failed to “respect the people.”
Colombia will take to the polls on Sunday following what analysts have called the “dirtiest” election campaign in recent history.
According to pollsters incumbent president Juan Manuel Santos and former Minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga are the main candidates to vie for the presidency and are likely to meet each other in a second round help on June 15.
