Conservative Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was gravely injured in a shooting at a campaign rally in Bogota, igniting concern in a country once plagued by the abductions and assassinations of its political figures. The attack, which was filmed, has revived memories of the violence that gripped Colombia in past decades.
Uribe Turbay, aged 39, had recently declared his intention to enter the presidential race scheduled for next year. Post-surgery, his condition remains severe, as doctors emphasize this is a critical period for his recovery.
Known as a presidential contender within the Democratic Center party, Uribe Turbay opposes the current administration led by President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s inaugural leftist head of state. While Petro will not be able to stand again in the 2026 elections, Uribe Turbay set the stage for his candidacy earlier this year.
In October of last year, Uribe Turbay announced his ambition to run for president via a video filmed in the scenic mountains of Antioquia. The location holds personal significance, being the site where his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped by the Medellin Cartel. Tragically, she was killed in 1991, during a period notorious for its heightened violence.
The attempt on Uribe Turbay’s life on Saturday has stunned the public, reviving painful recollections of when political unrest disrupted Colombian society.
Hailing from a family steeped in political heritage, Uribe Turbay embarked on his political journey early, joining Bogota’s City Council in 2012 at 25. By 2016, he was appointed as the city’s secretary of government. In 2022, he earned a seat in the Senate, brought into the fold by former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, though they share no familial ties.
Uribe Turbay is the grandson of former President Julio César Turbay Ayala, president from 1978 to 1982, and Rodrigo Uribe Echavarría, a former Liberal Party leader. Although he is not seen as a leading candidate in upcoming elections, Uribe Turbay’s campaign has concentrated on enhancing security, stimulating investment, and ensuring economic steadiness.
Currently, Uribe Turbay’s survival is uncertain following surgery at a private Bogotá clinic. Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán reported Uribe Turbay survived the surgery, but his condition remains precarious. The clinic confirmed the senator is in a serious state, with a prognosis that remains guarded.
In connection with the attack, authorities have detained a 15-year-old, believed to be the assailant, though the motive behind the shooting is still unknown. Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office has strongly denounced this act of violence, asserting that the nation must not revert to times when violence was wielded as a tool to silence political opinions and leadership.