Bogota, Colombia – Colombians go to the polls Sunday to elect their congressmen and senators. They will also have the option to vote in three primaries (known as interparty consultations) that determine which presidential candidate the party will field in the first round of presidential elections on May 31.
The two candidates currently leading in opinion polls, Abelardo de la Espriella and Ivan Cepeda, are not among the finalists for the primaries and the three consultations (“Consultations for Solutions: Health, Security and Education”). “Front for Life” and “The Great Consultation for Colombia” will eventually compete with them.
Juan Carlos Pinzón, a candidate for the Great Consultation for Colombia, was backed by the Partido Oxígeno along with eight other conservative candidates, including former Bogota mayor Enrique Peñalosa, journalist Vicky Dávila and former Antioquia governor Aníbal Gaviria. I’m hoping to get nominated.
Pinzón, who served as Secretary of Defense during the administration of Juan Manuel Santos and later served as Colombia’s ambassador to the United States, helped create the U.S.-Colombia Business Council within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as “Peace Colombia,” a follow-on funding and cooperation package to the U.S.-financed Plan Colombia.
Prime Minister Pinzon explained his policy plan that prioritizes national security and economic reconstruction in an interview with the media at a press conference on March 5 ahead of the primary election. His strategy includes building four high-security prisons, along with resuming oil and gas exploration to ensure energy stability, and a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to restore public order. (President Gustavo Petro’s government has halted all oil exploration in 2023.)
He also emphasizes the creation of special economic zones to attract international investment and productivity plans for the agricultural sector, seeking to create one million formal jobs a year and position Colombia as a regional leader in economic development.
Latin America Report sat together Pinzon of Bogotá during a press conference to answer questions about his candidacy. The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Latin America Report: What makes you different from other candidates?
Juan Carlos Pinzón: What sets me apart from other candidates seeking the ‘Casa de Nariño’ (Presidential Residence) is my real-life experience.
Some claim they can fix Colombia’s security even though they have never managed their own building’s security. I have led armies, led large-scale attacks against terrorism, and I know how to strengthen our justice system.
Beyond that, we have the international relationships we need to move forward. Other candidates only offer opinions, but we have a concrete plan. Our government programs are ready and written. We have 20 specific blueprints for every problem facing our country. We have a proven track record behind our solutions to the challenges facing Colombia today.
We will dismantle the terrible decisions that are causing poverty and suffering and could lead to power outages in the country.
LAR: You previously served as ambassador to the United States. What are your suggestions for undocumented Colombians in that country who are facing Trump’s strict immigration policies?
Pinch: First of all, I don’t want Colombians to feel pressured to leave the country. If they decide to leave, it should be because they have a real opportunity to do so. I hope they dream of staying in their own country. I am committed to providing them with the economic, professional, and social tools they need to achieve their goals in their home countries.
When it comes to complex issues related to our relationship with the United States, we will address them, as we always have, through dialogue.
We will talk, find solutions, and create ways to help Colombian citizens.
LAR: Back to neighboring Venezuela: Are you going to maintain diplomatic relations with ‘Chavismo’ figures like Delcy Rodriguez?
Pigeon: I will not sever ties with any country.
Diplomacy is the ability to communicate with enemies. My approach will always be based on conversation, as I have done throughout my career.
We need to find real solutions to complex problems through dialogue, not behind closed doors.
LAR: What is your administration’s position on the ongoing Middle East crisis?
Pinch: My priority is not the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East. My priorities are right here.
I plan to leverage my established international relationships to secure investment funds in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and bring that capital back to develop the countries I have defended on the ground.
LAR: Based on your experience living abroad, what would you say to the Colombian community voting abroad?
Pinch: Living abroad like me makes you twice as Colombian. You love your country even more.
To all Colombians listening, we need you here. Your vote matters and your decisions matter.
I know you love Colombia deeply and that is why I am asking for your support.
Featured image: Juan Carlos Pinzón
Image source: pinzonbueno.com
