MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s president claimed that the leftist candidate in Colombia’s presidential race is facing “a dirty war” by “conservatives.” This prompted the Colombian government Friday to tell President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to remain out of domestic politics.
Lopez Obrador insists that he does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and has used this excuse to avoid criticizing nondemocratic regimes such as Nicaragua and Cuba.
Lopez Obrador, however, blasted Gustavo Petro, the leftist Gustavo Petro on Friday. Lopez Obrador claimed Petro is being targeted by a scare campaign to portray him as a dangerous radical. This was similar to the campaign against Lopez Obrador during his failed presidential bid in 2006.
Lopez Obrador: “I’m sending Petro a hug.” Why a hug? Because he is in a war of the most cowardly, undignified type. This is similar to what we experienced in Mexico. “All the conservatives are united in an unethical manner.”
Colombia’s foreign affairs ministry reacted on social media to the Mexican president’s remarks, claiming that they were an “offensive interference in our country’s internal affairs.”
The ministry stated that he was asked to respect the sovereignty of the Colombian people and allow them to elect their next president free from any interference.
Colombian voters elected Sen. Petro, a former rebel to contest the second round against Rodolfo Hernandez (real estate tycoon), an outsider populist businessman.
Petro won the six-candidate field with just over 40%, while Hernandez finished second with more that 28%. Hernandez has no political ties whatsoever.
