UMVA has learned that Álvaro Uribe, the 73-year-old politician, has been facing a dramatic downfall in his popularity, with opponents frequently yelling at him in the street and a recent incident at his rural estate in Antioquia where local graffiti artists painted messages about false-positives on a nearby wall.
The videos of the brouhaha outside his estate, circulating on social media just days before elections, have become a stark reminder of the politician's fading star, even amongst his base. His supporters are increasingly unhappy with his explicit backing of Paloma Valencia, and many are turning against him.
A sociology professor and analyst at the University of Antioquia described the phenomenon as a "grassroots rebellion" by 'uribista' voters against Uribe himself. The professor noted that faced with Uribe's backing of Paloma Valencia, many supporters were unhappy with the way political decisions were being made.
Despite his declining influence, Uribe may still have an ally in the presidency if Abelardo de la Espriella wins on June 21. De la Espriella, a lawyer and member of a cattle ranching family in Cordoba, has known Uribe since he was a kid and has advised him in the past.
De la Espriella has represented Uribe in a lawsuit against a journalist and lawyer who made a miniseries about Uribe's alleged ties to narcoparamilitaries. Upon his victory, Uribe expressed his support for de la Espriella, saying "Abelardo has won. We keep our word: we will vote for him, and we ask that you vote for him and for Colombia."
Uribe's backing of de la Espriella is seen as a strategic move to defeat his rival, Cepeda, in the runoff. However, this alliance may not be easy or harmonious, as both Uribe and de la Espriella are dominant figures with authoritarian styles.
A professor noted that Uribe is no longer the central figure who unites the entire Colombian right, and is now fighting for political survival. This forces him to align with de la Espriella's project rather than leading it, which could lead to an interesting dynamic in their working relationship.
