In the recording, Fico Gutiérrez appears alongside Vallenato artists, friends and other attendees of the wedding – credit @FisicoImpuro/X
A video spread on social networks generated reactions in the political scene after showing the mayor of Medellín, Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez, at a wedding reception. In the images shared on the social network X, the president appears with two vallenato music singers, friends and colleagues.
The recording records the president of the capital of Antioquia drinking, apparently alcohol, while he performs the songs with the guests of said wedding. Fico’s behavior led to accusations from sectors of the opposition and internet users, who questioned the state he was in during the party.
In the audiovisual material that is trending on digital platforms, the president is seen hugging the musicians and singing verses from the songs in the repertoire. Likewise, Internet users pointed out that the official seemed to be under the influence of alcohol during the celebration.
Sectors of the opposition focused their questions on the coherence of the political discourse. Various users compared this situation to similar episodes involving other national leaders, specifically President Gustavo Petro, who constantly receives accusations for events of the same nature in public settings.
“Can you imagine the scandal the media would be making if the one in the video had been Petro? They would spend THE WHOLE BLESSED WEEK talking about him (sic),” wrote a user on X.
The mayor’s detractors pointed out that the criticism does not respond to the fact of attending events in free time, but to the double standard that is applied in public conversation according to the political alignment of each leader.
What generated the greatest controversy was the reaction of the former mayor of Medellín and current Superintendent of Health, Daniel Quintero Calle, who joined the comments on Federico Gutiérrez’s video.
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Furthermore, ironically, he assured that, despite the political differences they have maintained, he would be willing to provide support if he needed it: “If the mayor requires help, despite our differences, I am ready to help. The first thing is to recognize the problem.”.
The episode adds to the controversy generated the same weekend by images of a celebration of the president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, his wife Ana Lucía Pineda and his work team. At this meeting, the presence of liquor and dancing in a festive context was also recorded.
In these recordings he appears sharing in a private meeting, dancing and consuming liquor. The criticism, however, does not focus on his drinking alcohol – since the president-elect himself has publicly stated that he enjoys doing so in moderation and that he does not usually get drunk – but on the debate on political coherence.
Some sectors maintain that similar behaviors were the subject of strong questions when they involved left-wing leaders.
Abelardo de la Espriella went partying with his wife and work team – Instagram credit
During his political career, President Gustavo Petro was the subject of questions from opposition sectors who accused him of appearing in some public settings under the influence of alcohol.
The accusations arose mainly from videos spread on social networks, although in several cases the president rejected these versions or explained the circumstances of the images.
One of the most remembered episodes occurred in February 2022, during a political event in Girardot, Cundinamarca; There he was in the presidential campaign. A video circulated on social networks in which some users claimed that Petro was under the influence of alcohol because of the way he spoke during his speech.
Later, the then senator acknowledged that he had consumed a drink before the speech and indicated that it had affected him.
Months later, also during the 2022 presidential campaign, similar accusations arose again after the circulation of another video of a public intervention in Boyacá. On that occasion, his campaign team denied that the candidate was drunk and attributed the versions to interpretations of his political opponents.
Already as president, Gustavo Petro once again faced similar accusations after the dissemination of videos on social networks that sought to show him apparently under the influence of alcohol. In some cases, the president denounced digital manipulations and assured that the recordings had been altered to affect his public image.
