The Green Party responded Tuesday to accusations from the National Electoral Council (NCE) that presidential candidate Anatas Mockus paid former vice presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo to be his running mate.
Former campaign finance chief Astrid Alvarez said the Green Party contract included a payment to Fajardo for nearly $27,000, but the money “was not intended to pay Sergio Fajardo to be vice president, but to pay the expenses incurred … for being a candidate.”
Alvarez added that the accusations were meant “to discredit the Green Party.”
After failing to receive a significant number of seats in the March congressional elections with his own party, Fajardo joined the Green Party and became the running mate of Antanas Mockus in April.
Fajardo’s Twitter account has been active Tuesday morning with 16 separate Tweets, likely in response to the NCE’s reports of wrongdoing. Fajardo echos the sentiments of Alvarez, saying “all of the attacks they are making on us are trying to destroy the trust we have built. We are accustomed to this.” A separate Tweet said “All of our acts are transparent. You can see everything.”
In the financial records of the party, the CNE found a contract wherein Fajardo commits to act as the party’s running mate between April 12 and May 28, two days before the first round elections, CM& reported.