The atmosphere in the Senate of the Republic of Colombia was altered by a high-tension verbal confrontation between the senator of the Democratic Center María Fernanda Cabal and the activist Hernán Muriel, a member of the Brotherhood for Change collective and today a candidate for the House of Representatives of the Historical Pact for the department of Antioquia.
The situation, which was recorded on video and widely disseminated on social networks, required the intervention of the congresswoman’s security team to prevent the situation from escalating further.
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The incident originated when Muriel approached the presidential candidate of the opposition party in the social hall of the Senate and questioned her about alleged links with the former magistrate of the Constitutional Court, Jorge Ignacio Pretelt Chaljub, involved in land dispossession issues and convicted of corruption.
“Are you still friends with Jorge Pretel? You got together with him over the issue of land dispossession and he accompanied you on the campaigns. Are you still friends with him?“Asked Muriel, remembering that in 2021 there were images in which the senator had been seen in the former gown.
However, María Fernanda Cabal, with visible annoyance, questioned those in charge of entering the legislative precinct about the entry of the current House candidate. “Why do they let harassing journalists into Congress?”, questioned the senator.
Subsequently, an exchange was generated between both personalities. “It’s just a question, we do responsible journalism,” said Hernán Muriel. To which Cabal replied: “No, your question is rude. It’s just that I’m offended by what he’s saying. I am the congresswoman with the most votes in the history of this country”.
The scene escalated to the outskirts of the Social Hall of the Senate, when the congresswoman from the Democratic Center took her cell phone and began to record the activist related to the Government of Gustavo Petro, in which she denounced him for having accused her of alleged ‘criminal acts’.
“This man came to harass me in the Senate of the Republic. He even told me that I do criminal acts”, expressed Cabal.
Given this, Muriel denied that she had mentioned what was expressed. “No ma’am. I only asked her if she was still friends with Jorge Pretelt. Please don’t make false accusations”, he refuted.
Immediately afterwards, a man who was accompanying Hernán Muriel in the legislature appeared and also complained to María Fernanda Cabal for her statements.
However, the senator, in an annoyed tone, refuted him and criticized him for wearing a cap with a red star that, for the presidential candidate of the Democratic Center, alludes to the Cuban revolution.
“Yes, he (Hernán Muriel) said that. I’m also going to find out who you are, he also came with serious threats. That little star works for you, do you like Che Guevara who murdered peasants?“said the opposition senator, who after finishing the recording returned to the Senate floor.
The video of the altercation, which circulates widely on digital platforms, has generated diverse reactions among political sectors and citizens.
Although the images do not show physical contact, they do show an atmosphere of tension and offenses that went beyond traditional political debate, placing themselves in the realm of personal confrontations marked by ideological differences and accusations of betrayal.
This is not the first time that Hernán Muriel has been involved in a controversy with congressmen from the country.
In August 2025, the activist and today candidate for the Chamber of the Historical Pact for Antioquia was involved in a fight with Green Alliance senator Jonathan Ferney Pulido, known as Jota Pe Hernández.
On that occasion, Muriel reproached him for the position that Hernández has adopted regarding the government of President Gustavo Petro. According to the videos replicated by witnesses, the activist expressed: “Never again in my life will I support a person like you”, accusing the legislator of having betrayed the principles he defended during his political campaign.
The discussion, which began with moderate voices, quickly escalated. Senator Hernández, visibly upset, responded with direct accusations and language that raised tension in the room.
At a key moment in the altercation, Hernández exclaimed: “Today you are fine with what you criticized before, today you are fine with acts of corruption, you are a prepayment”an expression that generated greater agitation among those present and marked a turning point in the confrontation.
The exchange of words escalated when the congressman made another statement that shocked those who witnessed the scene: “Today they no longer count deaths, today they think it’s okay for social leaders to be murdered, for the government’s money to be stolen, and for a marijuana user to be in power.”shouted Hernández, accompanied by gestures and a visibly excited attitude.
The tension reached such a level that several officials present in the vicinity of the room intervened to calm things down.
The security authorities of the National Capitol entered the area to prevent the verbal confrontation from leading to a physical confrontation. Finally, the legislative police escorted Muriel to one of the exits, while Hernández returned to the interior of the Senate showing signs of annoyance.
