The United States clarified that it has already met with most of the candidates for the presidency of Colombia and will continue to do so as the electoral process progresses.
(Read here: What is known about who sounds like the new US ambassador. in Colombia)
The clarification, requested by this newspaper, arose as a result of reports in the national media about an alleged meeting between ambassador Philip Goldberg and the former mayor of Bucaramanga and presidential candidate Rodolfo Hernández.
“Ambassador Goldberg and other officials have met with most of the presidential candidates and will continue to meet with candidates from across the political spectrum as the election season progresses,” an embassy spokesman told this newspaper.
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Until this statement, it was unknown that the embassy had already met with most of the candidates, except for the leak in the case of Hernández.
The meetings are usually private and without the intention of being disclosed to the press.
The Embassy explained, in fact, that it is a “common practice in diplomacy” that is not exclusive to the United States. But it took the opportunity to say that Washington supports the strong democratic institutions of Colombia and is waiting for the next elections. presidential elections, which they hope “will be free and fair”.
This same doubt arose during an interview with Undersecretary of State Brian Nichols, which was published by that newspaper last Sunday.
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“The role of the ambassador is to understand a country and make sure that our relationship is broad and comprehensive. Ambassador Goldberg meets with people from all walks of life and I think there are more than 20 candidates right now. As the electoral process reduces that number, the ambassador will have the opportunity to meet with those who remain from that process,” said this official at the time.
In any case, it is a sensitive issue, since a US meeting with some of the rivals but not with others would give the impression that Washington would have favourites.
Even more so in the context of the hectic electoral campaign and against the background of the US elections in 2020 when Colombian politicians were accused of intervening in those elections to favor Donald Trump.
The Embassy’s clarification would clear up any doubt about possible US favoritism in the current election campaign.
Jean Manes would be the new ambassador
Rumors have been circulating since last week that President Joe Biden has already tipped Jean Elizabeth Manes as the new US ambassador to Colombia to replace the current official, Philip Goldberg.
Indeed, sources in Washington confirmed that Manes is at the top of the president’s list and that his nomination for the post could come soon, given that Biden has just announced his intention to nominate Goldberg as the new US ambassador to South Korea.
SERGIO GOMEZ MASERI
TIME CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON
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