Colombian Candidate Petro to Fajardo: 'Co-Govern With Us'

Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro extended an offer to former candidate Sergio Fajardo to co-govern with his movement Humane Colombia. Fajardo, who came in third place in the May 27 elections, with 4,589,696 votes.

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“I think Fajardo, as a person, should co-govern with us and he would be the next president,” Petro said during an interview with local news agency Tuesday.

It is unclear what Petro meant with the offer, however he had previously announced he was considering Fajardo for his cabinet. In a recent interview Fajardo told El Tiempo that he would not participate in a future Petro cabinet, citing his commitment to work with youth to create more political leaders.

Petro’s calls for a united candidacy formed by those who clearly support Colombia’s peace process, including Fajardo and Liberal candidate Humberto De la Calle, were shunned before the first round of votes.

However, after the May 27 vote there have been renewed talks on possible alliances with the parties that form Fajardo’s Colombia Coalition -the Democratic Pole, the Green Alliance and the Citizens’ Commitment movement.

According to Caracol Radio, 19 out of the 25 members of the Democratic Pole’s Executive Committee are in favor of supporting Petro and its Human Colombia Movement.

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The Green Alliance is debating whether they will call for a blank vote or for supporting Petro. Antonio Sanguino of the Green Allaince, announced Wednesday five conditions to reach an accord with Petro. The conditions are to uphold the 1991 Constitution and not call for a constituent assembly, to respect private property, a compromise with merit-based designations to public office, fiscally responsible public policy decisions, and commitment to the anti-corruption consultation.     

A final decision is expected Thursday.  

In an interview with Univision Wednesday, Petro clarified he would not call for a constituent assembly or expropriate private property. Petro also warned that "if former President Uribe wins, progressive forces will have no chance in the next 12 years."

Uribe’s Democratic Center party is sponsoring Ivan Duque’s candidacy. “Duque has said he will terminate the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, and then he will end peace,” Petro warned arguing the elections will be a choice between war and peace.

With Fajardo’s votes Petro could win the June 17 election. However, he could also achieve this if he is capable of mobilizing Colombians who didn’t vote in the first round, which was about 48 percent of the voting population.