FL Republicans host former right-wing Colombian president in the Capitol

Florida Republicans in the Legislature appealed to the state’s Hispanic population Tuesday morning with a roundtable event with former Colombian right-wing President Alvaro Uribe Velez. Overall, the group painted a dire future for the country if it remained under leftist leadership.

Although the former president told reporters he didn’t know the purpose of his visit to Tallahassee, his presence could help Republicans catch the attention of nearly six million Latinos in the state. Miami-Dade Rep. David Borrero, who hosted the event, put on a show for the former president’s visit with a folkloric dance performance and traditional Colombian food.

“We need to show what happens when certain socialist policies are adopted by certain countries. There is an unfortunate trend in Latin America that hopefully turns around,” Borrero said.

Participants in the roundtable also made references to socialism in Venezuela and Cuba and runaway inflation in Argentina to criticize the policies of Colombia’s leftist president Gustavo Petro. Even though over a decade has passed since Uribe’s presidency, he remains popular among conservative Colombians.

“You will always be my president,” said Adriana Renner, wife of Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. She is from the city of Tulua. The recently elected mayor of Tulua also took part in the roundtable.

As expected, Uribe slammed Petro for his planned health and pension reforms and for the growth in cocaine production in Colombia. In 2022, there was a 13 percent growth in coca crops growing in the country, according to a recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported in October 2023 that the former president could face a trial over witness tampering and fraud accusations. “The former president has always maintained his innocence,” Reuters reported.

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