Enrique Gómez denounced censorship of regional media that did not allow him to participate in the presidential debate

In the presidential debates that have taken place in the country, there are four candidates who always invite in these spaces: Ingrid Betancourt, Sergio Fajardo, Federico 'Fico' Gutiérrez and Gustavo Petro. However, there are currently five other candidates in the electoral contest and on March 17 one of them demanded a space in the media to socialize their proposals. This is Enrique Gómez, representative of the National Salvation Movement.

Candidate Gómez claims to have requested space in the debate, however, the quota was denied. Despite this, he arrived at the premises of the newspaper El Colombiano, where the event would take place and was refused entry there “for security reasons”. The politician emphasizes that he was the first to register with the Registry Office and yet they do not recognize him as a candidate for the Casa de Nariño.

It should be noted that the candidate uploaded several videos in which he records his multiple attempts to enter the debate, but he was not recognized. After so much insistence, he described the decision of the regional media, mainly in El Colombiano, as censorship.

Given this, Gómez chose to hold his own parallel debate outside the premises of the newspaper El Colombiano. The candidate reproduced the signal of the event on his cell phone and was discussing his proposals on each point on Twitter.

This is what Gómez said about key points for the country such as the decriminalization of abortion, relations with Venezuela, migration, the pension system, among others:

Migration: “No to strict controls on Venezuelan citizens who are fleeing dictatorship, hunger and repression! How about when Petro sets up his communist dictatorship they won't welcome us in Ecuador?”

Taxes: “Candidate Sergio Fajardo no more taxes! We need to stimulate the culture of savings in Colombians”

Pensions: “Colombia needs a reform of the pension system, clearly not that of Petro. No to the expropriation of workers' savings!”

Vandalism in the protests: “A heavy hand and immediate prosecution of those who destroy public goods and intimidate citizens”.

Despite “intervening” in the debate, Gómez published several messages in which he insists that the quality of the electoral debate is very low. He assures, like several Colombians from different political currents, that in these spaces candidates are being allowed to attack each other and very little expose ideas.

About Gómez's candidacy

The candidate is a lawyer and nephew of Álvaro Gómez Hurtado, a politician murdered 27 years ago. Last year he regained representation of the National Salvation Movement party, founded by his uncle, and decided to run for president. The man, who identifies himself as a conservative right wing, says that his main objective is to reform justice, and end impunity and corruption.

“We will build the Agreement on the Fundamentals to achieve comprehensive reform of justice, to ensure compliance with the law, security and tranquility in the countryside and cities, and that the law is never negotiated again with the terrorist and the bandit, so that we achieve the immediate transformation of education,” said Gomez.

It should be noted that his vice-presidential formula will be Carlos Cuartas.

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