Sergio Fajardo announces he will seek the presidency for a third term: "My energy is to unite Colombia, not divide it."

Third time's the charm? This Sunday, in the midst of the July 20th commemoration, former mayor of Medellín and former governor of Antioquia, Sergio Fajardo Valderrama, officially announced his presidential aspirations.

Fajardo, who in recent months had been making waves as a candidate, giving several interviews in which he spoke of his intention to run for president for a third time and leading in the polls, officially launched his campaign yesterday.

“My priority is Colombia; my ideology is serious, disciplined, and transparent work. My energy is to unite Colombia, not divide it. My commitment is to defend it from those who threaten it. I will use my knowledge to solve real problems. I am Sergio Fajardo, and in 2026, I will be the president Colombia needs to move forward,” Fajardo said in a video released on his social media yesterday morning.

In the publication, he reviewed the main problems facing Colombia today and explained why he is the person best suited to solve them.

“How did we get here? A country of brilliant dawns, today burdened by the darkness of chaos. A country of creative and kind people, with breathtaking nature, paralyzed by the disorder and inefficiency that robs us of opportunities. Fearful of the violence and insecurity that sweep the country with impunity, under the complicit gaze of the rulers sworn to protect us. We deserve much more. We deserve a leadership that defends us decisively, that instead of putting up barriers and obstacles, brings out the best in each of us and pushes us to reach further, that wakes up early every morning with us to move the country forward.”

The 69-year-old former Paisa leader has insisted in his various conversations on the need to work together for Colombia. In fact, in April of this year, in a conversation with this newspaper, he asserted that he, with his experience and consistent positions, is the person capable of bringing together the left, the center, and the right to govern Colombia in 2026. And this was precisely one of the main points of his message: “It is a task we must undertake together, united for our families, our future, and our country. The road is steep, but we cannot retreat or stop. The only option is to reach the top, to move forward. After suffering the misgovernance of recent years, Colombia needs a new leader to restore order, a president who takes his job seriously, disciplined and methodical, who will assemble the best teams to prioritize the strategic projects we need to finally achieve full development for our regions.”

The former governor, who has dedicated a good part of his life to academia—he holds a PhD in Mathematics—mentioned in his message the main problems the next president must address.

“We need a president with the experience to combat insecurity with intelligence and strength, to guarantee the health of every family. A president who recognizes the fundamental role of women in transforming our society. A president with the knowledge to respond to the uncertainty of youth, with national policies on education, science, technology, and entrepreneurship to create the opportunities and jobs needed today,” the former president added.

Fajardo also insisted on the need to combat corruption without political machinery behind it. "We need a free president, free from political ties, free from dark interests, free from corruption."

But Fajardo also spoke of the need for the head of state not to polarize but, on the contrary, to unite Colombians and institutions.

“We need a president who doesn't polarize further, who doesn't pit Colombians against each other, who leads a Colombia so we can move forward together. That won't be done by those limited by ideologies; it will be done by those with the values to build a civic culture of coexistence. Only then can we find solutions to improve our lives. We can't go backward or stay in the same place. There is one option: to move forward,” Fajardo added.

The official announcement of Fajardo's arrival in the electoral race, who will run for his party, Dignity and Commitment, generated some reactions in the country's political scene.

For example, former Senator David Luna, a presidential candidate currently collecting signatures to register, sent him a message welcoming him to the race. “Great message, Professor, welcome to the race! And from the bottom of my heart and with great respect, I hope you don't close the door to a referendum in this election. The conditions in 2022 were very different, and the stakes are high. We need to come together, several of us who want the same things for the country: education, security, and decency. Much success.”

“There are many things I admire about Fajardo. One of them: his respect for the people. In 2022, many insisted he promise 'bread and butter,' because that, according to them, was the only way to win the presidency. Sergio, always firm, responded that he wasn't going to deceive the people by promising unrealistic promises. In the end, that was insulting their intelligence and doing the same thing they've always done, manipulating people's dreams. We need someone who treats people with respect, who is incapable of lying to them by looking them in the eye, as so many do. Someone decent and disciplined, capable of building bridges and uniting a broken country,” asserted House Representative Jennifer Pedraza, a member of the Dignity and Commitment party.