Colombians have begun to question the political influence of their vice president as claims arise over his alleged support of U Party mayoral candidate John Harold Suarez in the city of Buga, Valle del Cauca, reported Caracol radio on Thursday.
According to Colombian law it is illegal for any official to openly support or oppose a candidate in any type of election.
The accusations come just two days after the conclusion of a controversy between the vice president and the President Juan Manuel Santos, in which Garzon publicly condemned the government’s policy on poverty.
In addition to the conflict regarding Suarez, Colombia’s Vice President Angelino Garzon has been accused of unfairly favouring certain minority groups in a way that prioritizes them politically.
On August 23, Garzon met with Cali community members at the Latin American meeting of cultures and communities of African descent . At the event, Garzon offered the community the creation of specialized committees in each mayors office and government that would be managed exclusively by Afro-Colombians.
“We propose that in every mayor’s office the program would exist exclusively for the right of the populations and those who aspire to hold (political) positions. First, they must be Afro-Colombian, because no one understands the politics of Afro-Colombians or indigenous groups, directed by blue-eyed white men, this no one understands, ” Garzon reportedly said in the meeting.
At the same event Garzon also allegedly urged indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities to propose a quota law for them in Congress, so that they would be legally obliged to hold more national political positions and have permanent positions on electoral lists.