Óscar Iván Zuluaga, presidential candidate of the Democratic Center

The ruling Centro Democrático party once again elected former Finance Minister Óscar Iván Zuluaga as its sole candidate for the 2022 presidential elections.

“The winner is Dr. Óscar Iván Zuluaga,” said the director of the Democratic Center, Nubia Stella Martínez, revealing the name of the chosen one in an internal consultation carried out by two polling firms that consulted 2,100 militants by telephone and 2,100 others in person. citizens with affinity with that political party.

Zuluaga, a native of Pennsylvania, Caldas, and who already contested the Presidency of Colombia in 2014, is the first official candidate for the 2022 elections, as the other parties are in the formation of coalitions and nomination of candidates.

“Thank God and the Blessed Virgin for their wisdom to achieve this victory that marks the way to unite the country around employment, security, health, education and equality. This is a project of unity to achieve a fairer Colombia ”, said Zuluaga after knowing his official designation.

“I also thank President Iván Duque for his service and sacrifice since he has had to take on the economic and social crisis that the covid-19 pandemic has generated,” he added to the now presidential candidate.

“Today begins a new era in the Democratic Center. The era of speaking less and listening more to citizens. From tomorrow I will begin a national tour called ‘I am all ears’ to listen to Colombians from all corners of the country, ”the candidate remarked.

Speaking of possible political alliances, Óscar Iván Zuluaga assured that he will begin to seek rapprochements with other related forces to achieve – now – his objective of reaching the House of Nariño. “Consensus must be built and other political currents that want to defend democracy must be sought,” he said.

Zuluaga is expected to seek some kind of negotiation with the so-called “Team for Colombia,” the center-right coalition made up of Alejandro Char, Federico Gutiérrez, Enrique Peñalosa, Juan Carlos Echeverry, David Barguil and Dilian Francisca Toro.

“I believe in a coalition in favor of employment, security, health, employment and women. I don’t believe in a coalition against anyone, but in favor of everyone, ”said Zuluaga about this possibility.

It is also known that the five Uribista pre-candidates (Alirio Barrera, María Fernanda Cabal, Óscar Iván Zuluaga, Paloma Valencia and Rafael Nieto) reached an agreement so that the four who were defeated in this process remain alongside the winner and support him in the elections.

The process of choosing the presidential nominee of Uribismo lasted almost two months, in which the five candidates participated in nine forums in eight cities of the country.