Colombia’s main presidential candidates on Friday crossed swords on corruption in the last televized debate before Sunday’s elections.
Socialist candidate Gustavo Petro was most critical of the current administration of Alvaro Uribe and criticized government candidate Juan Manuel Santos on the fact that Santos campaign posters were found in airports where public works took place. Petro also alleged that Colombian tax payers’ money illegally was used to finance the campaign of the controversial PIN party, who is accused of being led by jailed politicians and their families.
Santos denied any wrongdoings and stressed his campaign had been clean and did not receive any support of the PIN party.
Antanas Mockus, together with Santos favorite for the elections, said corruption needs to be countered through a change of culture.
Santos immediately responded the former Bogota mayor saying “that is not enough.” According to Santos, “we need to get rid of the corrupt with intelligence, counterintelligence and force … and double the penalties for them.”
In his response, Mockus said this would only work if first the culture wherein corruption is considered normal is being questioned.