The religious leader stated that Catholics must reflect on the country's direction before going to the polls and harshly questioned Petrism in the final stretch of the presidential campaign
The Colombian presidential campaign has added a new episode of high political impact after a Catholic priest publicly expressed his support for Abelardo De La Espriella and launched strong criticisms against President Gustavo Petro and the official candidate Iván Cepeda.
During an intervention that quickly went viral on social media, the religious leader stated that Catholic citizens have a moral responsibility when it comes to voting and questioned the possibility of supporting leaders linked to the political project of the current government.
“It cannot be that a Catholic goes out to vote for a person who has been a sponsor of criminals all their life,” the priest expressed while referring to the presidential election.
The espriellist priest
The statements generated an intense debate as they come just days before the runoff between Abelardo De La Espriella and Iván Cepeda. For several Colombian sectors, the words reflect the discontent of part of society with the policies promoted during Gustavo Petro's government, especially regarding security and negotiations with armed groups.
The priest also maintained that Colombia is going through a decisive moment and that citizens must carefully evaluate the consequences of their vote. He stated that the country faces an election that will define not only the economic and political direction but also aspects related to the values and principles that will guide the nation in the coming years.
The statements were celebrated by supporters of De La Espriella, who interpreted them as a sign of the growing support that the opposition candidate is receiving in various social sectors.
Colombians celebrating De La Espriella's electoral victory
Additionally, various polls published in recent days show a clear advantage for Abelardo De La Espriella over the communist Iván Cepeda, fueling expectations for a political change after four years of the narco president Gustavo Petro's government.
Meanwhile, the video continues to circulate widely on social media and has become one of the most commented episodes of the electoral final stretch. With an extremely polarized election and an increasingly intense political climate, any statement from public figures with social influence has the potential to impact the national debate and mobilize undecided voters.
