The former president of Congress, Ernesto Macías, breaks the silence and talks about the upcoming elections. He says that Rodrigo Lara Sánchez would be an “excellent alternative” and considers German Casagua and Germán Darío Rodríguez as “good candidates.” He also answers why he was absent from Uribe’s last visit to Neiva.
Jesus Antonio Rojas Serrano
The former president of the Congress of the Republic and top figure of the Democratic Center in Huila, Ernesto Macías, speaks with LA NACIÓN about political events in the department and the country.
Among other things, the Garzón leader says that he hopes to know the candidates his party registers to make decisions which ones to support. He also defends the results of the regional elections that he guided, in response to criticism from the new coordinator of Huilense Uribismo, the veteran leader Julio Bahamón.
And as a distinguished opponent of the government of Gustavo Petro, he referred to the three reforms that are being processed in Congress and which he describes as “disastrous.” As usual, Macías is controversial and does not hold anything back when he refers to political issues, especially.
As you are the main leader of the Democratic Center in Huila, many were surprised by your absence during the visit to Neiva by former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, what happened?
Jesús Antonio, I have publicly expressed my discrepancies with the management of the Directorate of the Democratic Center, and in a recent letter to President Uribe I reiterated those concerns and, furthermore, I conveyed to him my decision to withdraw from the Party’s institutionality; that is, today I am only a militant.
And have you had any response?
There has been no response yet, which is why I considered not attending that event where I would have had to repeat the same thing.
Have you considered resigning from the Democratic Center?
They have been accompanying President Uribe for more than 23 years in the construction of Uribism and 10 years in the creation of the Democratic Center, then I have not thought of giving up what I helped create.
But, what do you think that the director of the Democratic Center has appointed the veteran leader Julio Bahamón as coordinator of Uribismo in Huila?
I do not want to intervene or comment on decisions of the Party.
Mr. Bahamón has criticized your results in the last regional elections and says that they are bad, what is your answer?
Jesús Antonio, the Democratic Center has participated in two regional elections, and in both we presented our own candidates for the Governor’s Office of Huila, the Mayor’s Office of Neiva and various mayoralties, as well as lists for the Assembly and the councils of all the municipalities. And the results are there. For example, in 2019, we presented the best candidate for Governor, a candidate for Mayor of Neiva and 24 candidates for mayors of the same number of municipalities; and with the endorsement of the Democratic Center today we have 6 mayors, the seat in the Assembly was maintained and 39 councilors and 17 mayors were elected. These results are above the national average of the Party. So, if they do not agree with what has been done, they have the opportunity and the challenge to overcome it. It is not a matter of talking but of acting and showing results.
The new managers of the Centro Democrático in Huila criticize you a lot. How much do these ‘darts’ worry you?
My only concern is the country. Democracy and institutions are in danger, so we cannot waste time or the north. Our fight is concentrated in the defense of what has been built in democracy for several decades.
Facing the next elections, will you support the candidates of the Democratic Center?
So far we do not know the candidates. Once they are registered we will make decisions in each case.
Do you have any conditions to support?
Rather not to support. We will not support candidates from the left or from sectors that support the Petro government. Of course, we will not support questionable people either.
Speaking of the contest for the Governor of Huila, it is speculated that if the doctor Rodrigo Lara Sánchez presents your name, you would be with him, is that true?
Jesús Antonio, I have a special admiration for Dr. Rodrigo Lara Sánchez, he made a serious and transparent administration in the Mayor’s Office of Neiva; We enthusiastically accompany him in the campaign as vice-presidential candidate for Fico Gutiérrez. I don’t know what his decision is in front of the Government, he is an independent man. If he does, he will undoubtedly enrich the debate and would be an excellent alternative.
Which candidates do you like for the Mayor of Neiva?
German Casagua and Germán Darío Rodríguez are good candidates. They have good training, experience and know the city very well, they have prepared themselves to govern it.
Will we continue to see him very active in the electoral campaign?
Of course. The defense of democracy and institutions, threatened by the so-called ‘changes’ of the government, forces us to be active and in the political battle. We will continue forward, without pause.
What do you still think of the reforms that the government of Gustavo Petro is processing in the Congress of the Republic?
Jesús Antonio, the truth is that the three reforms are disastrous. And it is not known which is worse or more harmful to the country. For example, the reform of the health system endangers the health and lives of Colombians; And of course, the other two are also harmful, because millions of jobs would be lost, and Colombians who aspire to a pension will lose that illusion.
What other problem do you see in the current government?
Perhaps the most serious is security. The government has not only been permissive with the criminals but has ceded all the territory to them. Today the bandits are empowered and owners of the country. In addition, because the government has handcuffed the Public Force.
Another issue from his party: Senator Paloma Valencia, on her recent visit to Huila, harshly criticized former President Duque. Among other things, she said that he did not govern with the Democratic Center, what does he think?
President Iván Duque governed with the program that he presented to the nation, which was welcomed by the Democratic Center. And if the criticism is bureaucratic, the answer is that Duque kept four and five ministers from the Democratic Center and vice ministers, superintendents and many militant Party officials in the government; For example, Senator Paloma had her brother in the diplomatic service during the Duque government. If they wanted more bureaucracy, it was not possible, because Duque had to govern, as he did, with all the parties.
Senator Paloma also asked herself, ‘what did Duque do for Huila? Any answer?
The figures answer him and do not lie. More than $10.6 billion was invested by the Duque government in Huila, she should know that.
I cannot close this interview by asking you about the court decisions involving former President Uribe, what do you think?
Jesús Antonio, what is happening with President Uribe is totally unfair. She is an infamy turned into a judicial spectacle, to try to put an end to a man who has done nothing other than serve the country. One of the most serious consequences that the Havana process left in Colombia is that values were inverted: those who committed crimes against humanity were awarded immunity from their crimes and were even given seats in Congress, and those who have served the country, like Uribe, have to face judicial processes. The world upside down.
