Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Londoño publicly criticized Paloma Valencia, calling her a “pigeon without wings” during the 2026 Colombian campaign [1].
The public rift between the two candidates signals a deepening fracture within the right-wing political landscape. As both figures have ties to the Centro Democrático, their conflict suggests a struggle for leadership and ideological dominance ahead of the national vote.
Uribe Londoño began his public critique on April 19, 2026, when he questioned the viability of certain candidates in a potential runoff [2]. He said, “No veo por donde,” regarding the ability of Valencia or Abelardo de la Espriella to defeat Iván Cepeda in a second-round presidential contest [2]. These comments occurred less than six weeks before the election [2].
The tension escalated on April 26, 2026, as Uribe Londoño targeted the leadership of the Centro Democrático [1]. He said that “Valencia es una paloma sin alas y Uribe quiere gobernar en cuerpo ajeno” [1]. This phrasing highlighted his desire to distance his own platform from the established party leadership.
Beyond political strategy, the conflict has a personal dimension. Uribe Londoño accused Valencia of engaging in harassment [3]. He said that she “hostigó mucho a Miguel y lo hostigó en sus últimos meses de vida” [3].
Uribe Londoño has positioned himself as a distinct alternative to the existing party structure. By framing Valencia as ineffective and personally antagonistic, he is attempting to carve out a unique political identity for his candidacy. The accusations of harassment and the dismissive metaphors indicate a relationship that has moved beyond professional disagreement into personal animosity.
“Valencia es una paloma sin alas”
The public clash between Uribe Londoño and Valencia reveals a strategic fragmentation within Colombia's conservative coalition. By attacking a peer from the same political lineage, Uribe Londoño is signaling that the traditional Centro Democrático framework may no longer be sufficient to unite right-wing voters, potentially splitting the vote or forcing a realignment of the coalition before the final election stages.
