Colombia’s Vice President Angelino Garzon on Wednesday called for peace between President Juan Manuel Santos and former President Alvaro Uribe, after the two traded words.
In an open letter, Garzon stated his belief that the best thing for Colombia and its people would be for the two presidents to open a dialogue.
“The best thing for the population and the country, is for President Santos and former President Uribe to establish a direct dialogue that makes it clear to us that their priority is Colombia, democratic security, economic development, the erradication of poverty, Colombia’s sovereignty and the government of President Santos,” wrote Garzon.
The vice president also chastised the two presidents for airing their differences on a medium as public as twitter, noting that social networks should be used to “provide benefit[s] to the community.”
The public rebuke of Santos and Uribe was a response to the very public argument that recently broke out between them. Once close allies, Santos and Uribe’s relationship steadily declined after the former succeeded the latter as president.