What's behind the proposal to make former President Álvaro Uribe your vice presidential running mate?

Amid the closure of the case against Álvaro Uribe for alleged witness tampering, the verdict of which will be announced on July 28, the Democratic Center has begun to move to close ranks in favor of the former president who governed from 2002 to 2010.

There have been several lengthy social media posts in support of the former president. Former President Duque also dedicated a column to him in a Spanish newspaper. One of his sons, Tomás Uribe, published a letter framing the case as a case of alleged political persecution. In that letter, he even asserted that they would seek to remove him from the 2026 election.

"Petro and Santos are seeking to neutralize him judicially before 2026, aware that his participation, especially as vice president, would be key to defeating them," said one of the former president's sons at the end of the letter.

Tomás Uribe's statement echoes that of Abelardo de la Espriella, who is reportedly moving toward a 2026 candidacy. He even floated the proposal in February as a way to bolster the aspirations of Uribe supporters: "If Uribe isn't on the ballot, we're going to lose this thing."

Now, Tomás Uribe has revived the proposal, although he clarified to EL TIEMPO that they would only pursue this possibility if the verdict is an acquittal. If a conviction is handed down, they would withdraw it from the table. This is based on the logic that anyone convicted of criminal charges, except for political crimes, cannot aspire to a ruling.

The proposal sparked a legal debate over whether or not Uribe can run for vice president. Former constituent assembly member and constitutional expert Gustavo Zafra said the situation opened up a debate of interpretations. "The vice presidency is a replacement for the presidency, and in Colombia, reelection is prohibited. It will be a disguised reelection."

At the same time, he explained that there is a constitutional loophole because the vice president is not prohibited from assuming office. It's not clear; it wasn't foreseen . However, he noted that the Constitution establishes that the vice president must meet the same qualifications as the president, and this would include not having previously served as president.

Professor Jorge Iván Cuervo called the proposal "unworkable" and a right-wing ploy. "The Constitution is clear that a person cannot be president if they have previously served; the vice president's vocation is to replace the president in the event of temporary or permanent absences. Therefore, a vice president who cannot assume office makes no sense." He described the proposal as "a little trick taking advantage of a gray area."

Given the uncertainty surrounding whether Uribe could run for vice president, Professor Ángel Tuirán pointed out that the announcement would serve to revive a legal debate that could even reach the Constitutional Court. This would open up a new front of discussion amid next year's electoral contest.

"It's a campaign strategy to unite the sector in which Uribe has influence, and he may ultimately not run or resign if elected," Tuirán added. What lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella said gives clues as to what Uribe's nomination might be all about.

Although the assassination attempt on Miguel Uribe's life boosted his popularity in the latest polls, this hasn't translated into support for his party colleagues. None of the other candidates has seen any gains, and a promise from Álvaro Uribe as his vice-presidential running mate could reverse that possibility. It could even strengthen the antagonisms that have developed between Petrismo and Uribismo.

On the other hand, the announcement only adds pressure to the court's ruling. It's not just a decision against one of the most popular presidents in the country's history, but also a decision against a candidate.

Although this issue could end up affecting the Democratic Center's candidacies, EL TIEMPO learned that it is not a possibility being thoroughly studied within the party. "This has not been discussed as a party objective," commented Senator Carlos Meisel of the party.

However, he didn't waver from the proposal. "Citizens must fulfill the obligations imposed on us by law, but we must also have the freedom to exercise the rights it grants us. No one has prohibited Uribe from being a vice-presidential candidate, and it is part of his rights, his will, and his free choice," he stated.

On the other hand, Senator María Fernanda Cabal said that the party should seriously discuss whether former President Álvaro Uribe would run for vice president or even head the list.

For his part, although the former president hasn't commented on his son's letter, he has previously expressed no intention of being on the 2026 ballot . "I'd rather than perpetuate my name than cement these ideas in the new generations. We have five candidates from the party today; let's see how we arrive at a good option," he declared.

Juan Sebastian Lombo Delgado