The lawyer and academic Mauricio Gaona chose not to accept Juan Manuel Galán’s invitation to head the New Liberalism list for the Senate in the next legislative elections in Colombia.
In a letter shared by Gaona on his social networks, he expressed that “with the frankness that the truth demands, I am not a politician and the work that you kindly entrust to me requires such a disposition.”
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He thanked the offer and recognized Galán’s gesture, but emphasized that his work is carried out in scenarios other than the electoral field.
Gaona, son of the murdered Supreme Court judge Manuel Gaona, pointed out that his professional vocation focuses on the defense of the constitutional order, the law and human rights.
“My work and my fight focus on the protection of the constitutional order, the law, human rights and, particularly, history,” the jurist stated in the letter.
The lawyer also argued that he maintains editorial, academic, professional and family commitments outside the country, which makes it impossible for him to return to Colombia to assume a political position at this time.
“Equally preceding my response are editorial, academic, professional and family commitments that, for the moment, prevent my presence in Colombia,” he stated. He added that he is close to completing projects that have required several years of work.
In the letter addressed to Galán, the academic highlighted the memory of his parents and the bond shared by both leaders, whose families were marked by violent events in national history.
“History has left us in common causes, Juan Manuel. The eventuality of our time and our legacy, however, call, once again, the unavoidable commitment of our predecessors to defend democracy, the Republic and the rule of law in Colombiafrom the position that is most appropriate to both of us,” Gaona wrote.
The lawyer revealed that he not only received the invitation from New Liberalism, but also proposals from other political parties to head lists for the Senate and support presidential candidacies.
“I have received several offers from the parties, both to head lists for the Senate and to support presidential candidates in different roles. In public and private, my response has been the same,” he said.
Although he refused to join the electoral contest, Gaona recognized the importance of the current political moment and expressed his intention to continue collaborating with the defense of republican principles from his current areas of work.
He valued Galán’s words and the memory of Luis Carlos Galán, whom he described as a reference of integrity and honor in public service.
The New Liberalism continues without a head on the list for the Senate, after Gaona’s refusal and the departure of Alejandro Gaviria from the center coalition Ahora Colombia.
The presidential candidate Juan Manuel Galán detailed in an interview with W Radio the reasons behind his proposal for the lawyer Mauricio Gaona to head the list to the Senate for the coalition between the New Liberalism, Dignidad y Compromiso and the Mira party.
He explained that this decision was made before consulting with the other members of the alliance or considering previous commitments with former minister Alejandro Gaviria.
As mentioned W Radiothe decision was first known through the media, which generated discontent in Gaviria, who had previously been considered to lead the list. Gaviria even maintained that there was a verbal agreement on this issue.
“About a month ago we had a meeting about the head of the list and I proposed the name of Alejandro Gaviria,” Galán said on the station. “At that meeting, the directors of the Mira Party and Dignidad y Compromiso expressed reservations about him being the spokesperson for the list. They said he could be there, but not as the head,” he said.
Galán related that, after these reservations, the discussion was oriented toward other options: “We undertook a reflection on what other names could be appropriate to top the list.because it was about obtaining a consensus within the coalition, not about imposing a name“said the pre-candidate W Radio.
Furthermore, Galán admitted that Alejandro Gaviria was not informed in time. “Yesterday I called Dr. Alejandro Gaviria and told him that he was right to be upset about that (…) It was not my intention to cause him any discomfort. I appreciate it, I admire it,” he said.
