The candidate of the Defensores de la Patria signature movement, Abelardo de la Espriella, sent a letter to former President Álvaro Uribe in which he rejects his proposal to participate in a broad right-wing consultation in March 2026. He tells him, among other things, that his movement is a popular and non-traditional one, and that precisely this prevents him from participating in the mechanism.
Why is it key? De la Espriella had already said in the media this Friday that he would not participate in the consultation, but this is a communication in which he confirms to Uribe, who has insisted on a consultation from Abelardo to Fajardo, that he is not interested.
“The main argument that leads me to this conclusion is that Defensores de la Patria is not a traditional party, but a citizen movement of popular fervor,” De la Espriella wrote to Uribe, whose nod is sought by the majority of right-wing candidates.
If they ban me, why consult? De la Espriella supported his decision before Uribe not only from a populist argument, which places as its center a popular mandate translated into the collection of almost 5 million signatures to support himself, but he also returns to the division that his figure generates in those who are interested in measuring themselves in March.
“Even today, those who advocate for a consultation have vetoed my name from participating in it, excluding me beforehand,” said De la Espriella. Among those figures, from the right and center-right, and who today flirt with Uribe’s mechanism, are Vicky Dávila, Mauricio Cárdenas and others.
Some media have indicated that De la Espriella’s refusal has generated discomfort in the former president, with whom the relationship has been close for years. Despite this, in his letter, the candidate distorted this scenario: “Contrary to what some media and journalists have said, there is no problem, annoyance or discussion between the two regarding this matter.”
