Gustavo Petro did not attend Uribe Turbay's funeral; the family had requested his presence
In a somber turn of events, former Presidents César Gaviria, Ernesto Samper, and Juan Manuel Santos attended the funeral of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, while current President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez were absent [1][4]. The decision not to attend was made out of respect for the family's wishes, as they requested that high-ranking officials not be present [2][5].
The funeral was held under the shadow of tragedy, as Senator Uribe Turbay had been the victim of an attack that left him critically ill for two months before his untimely death at the age of 39 [6]. President Petro expressed his desire to pay his respects at the wake at the National Capitol, but the family preferred that he not attend [1].
Armando Benedetti, the Minister of the Interior, maintained contact with the family following Senator Uribe Turbay's death. Benedetti also shared memories of his friendship with the late senator, recalling how Uribe Turbay had managed his Senate campaign youth in 2010 [3].
The absence of President Petro and Vice President Márquez, along with other government officials, was not a sign of unwillingness to pay respects. Instead, it was a gesture of respect for the family and an effort to prevent the funeral from being overtaken by "supporters of hate" [1][3].
In a highly charged political context, Senator Uribe Turbay was a vocal critic of the current government led by President Petro and had been a presidential hopeful running against him [1][2]. By choosing not to attend the funeral, President Petro sought to avoid politicizing the event.
Francia Márquez, the Vice President, also decided not to attend the funeral out of respect for the family's wishes [2]. This decision was in line with the initial expectation that high-ranking officials might attend, including a potential delegation from the United States [1].
Despite their absence, the spirit of respect and condolences was not lost. Former Presidents Gaviria, Samper, and Santos, along with other political figures, gathered to honour the memory of Senator Uribe Turbay, a man whose life was cut short by senseless violence.
[1] El Tiempo: "Gustavo Petro y Francia Márquez no asistieron al funeral de Miguel Uribe Turbay" [2] La Silla Vacía: "Gustavo Petro y Francia Márquez no asistieron al funeral de Miguel Uribe Turbay" [3] Semana: "Armando Benedetti recordó su amistad con Miguel Uribe Turbay" [4] Caracol Radio: "Ex presidentes y políticos asistieron al funeral de Miguel Uribe Turbay" [5] Colombia Reports: "Gustavo Petro skips Miguel Uribe Turbay's funeral to avoid politicizing event" [6] El Espectador: "Miguel Uribe Turbay murió a los 39 años de edad"
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