Presidential candidates Paloma Valencia and Sergio Fajardo met in Barranquilla on May 23, 2024 [1], but failed to reach a formal political alliance.
The meeting represents a missed opportunity for a unified front ahead of the first round of presidential elections. As candidates seek to consolidate support, the inability to align their platforms suggests a fragmented opposition to the current administration.
The encounter took place at Hotel El Prado [1]. The candidates met to discuss a possible coalition, and to share their respective positions regarding President Petro’s proposal for a Constituent Assembly [2].
Fajardo expressed strong opposition to the proposed assembly. "La declaración de una Constituyente es una declaración de guerra," Fajardo said [3].
Reports on the outcome of the meeting vary between sources. Some accounts describe the session as ending without any agreement or alliance [4]. Other reports frame the encounter as a continuing story, suggesting that while no deal was signed, communication remains open [1].
Valencia and Fajardo entered the meeting with the goal of finding common ground before the first round of voting. However, the ideological gap regarding the structure of the government and the specific approach to the Constituent Assembly remained a primary hurdle during the discussions [2].
“"La declaración de una Constituyente es una declaración de guerra"”
The lack of a formal agreement between Valencia and Fajardo indicates that the Colombian opposition remains divided by ideological differences, particularly regarding the legitimacy of a Constituent Assembly. This fragmentation may dilute the influence of center-right and moderate candidates, potentially easing the path for the incumbent's allies in the upcoming election cycle.
