Polo Democrático leader Carlos Gaviria has denied having presidential
aspirations, after receiving severe criticism from prominent Polo senator
Gustavo Petro. The latter announced that he does want to become Colombia’s
next President.
“There are other leaders who are candidates and I know they have the support of the Colombian electorate, so I have no aspirations. Moreover, I think there must be space for new names,” he told newspaper El Espectador.
Gaviria added he would consider running for the 2010 presidency if “the democratic bases of the community” were to ask him.
Gustavo Petro, who had accused Gaviria of wanting to make the whole party evolve around himself, announced that he would have a go at the 2010 presidency “with or without Polo”.
Petro told W Radio he will try to be the social democrats’ candidate for the elections, “unless the people speak out otherwise”.
Gaviria is confronted with an imminent split in the party between a leftist wing that refuses any coalition with other political parties and a more moderate wing, led by senator Gustavo Petro, who will consider forming coalitions with parties such as the Liberal Party to confront the Uribista block in the upcoming elections.