The Franco-Colombian, which was hostage of the FARC for six years, is candidate for the presidential election of May 29 under the colors of his ecologist party, green oxygen.
Le Monde
Candidate for the presidential election of May 29 in Colombia, the Franco-Colombian and former hostage of the Marxist Guerrilla Des Farc Ingrid Betancourt announced, Thursday, having chosen for potential vice-president the colonel who had put an end, in 2008, at its six years of captivity in the Amazon jungle.
“I had to choose the person I consider as the best partner to carry out this mission against corruption: Colonel José Luis Esparza,” said in an interview at the online media Cambio M me Betancourt, who left a centrist coalition in January to present himself alone in the presidential.
Today at retirement, Colonel Esparza was the “Hero de Jaque”, “said the ex-hostage, 61 years, with reference to the famous operation of the Colombian army that allowed his release. “It’s someone in whom I trust because he saved my life.”
Colonel Esparza, who retired from the army at the end of last year, ordered the complex operation, climbing by the army under humanitarian coverage, during which M Me betancourt and fourteen other hostages had been released without violence from the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), formerly the most powerful guerrilla of the South American continent and filed the weapons in 2016.
“He sinks into the jungle, trompe the guerrillas and manages to save us without drawing a single shot,” said M me betancourt about his Savior.
“No doubt am I a little more right than Ingrid. But the most important thing is that we are united by the sensitive issue of corruption,” said Esparza in the same interview.
Marginal voting intentions
Wearing a feminist speech and against corruption, the Franco-Colombian is under the colors of his own ecologist party, green oxygen. It is an alternative between the opposition of the left, currently in mind in the polls, and the right to power.
It is however credited only from 3 to 4% of the voting intentions, and remains a relatively controversial character in Colombia, where it does not cause sympathy and wherever it is criticized for having tried to benefit financially of his detention.
Colombians will vote on May 29 to find a successor to Conservative President Ivan Duque, who can not be represented.
They also vote March 13 for legislative elections, but also to choose candidates from several political coalitions by presidential ballot.
The left candidate, Gustavo Petro, for the moment the race in mind, according to the polls.