Miguel Uribe Turbay, Colombian presidential pre-candidate, dies after being shot at a rally.
Colombia woke up in mourning this Monday with the news of the death of Miguel Uribe Turbay, senator and presidential pre-candidate for the Centro Democrático party. He was 39 years old and had been hospitalized in serious condition for more than two months after being shot multiple times during a campaign event in the west of Bogotá on June 7.
His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, confirmed his death through an emotional message on social media: “Rest in peace love of my life, I will take care of our children.”
The attack, recorded on video, brought back memories of the 1980s and 1990s, when the murders and kidnappings of political figures by cartels and insurgent groups were constant in the country.
Political career and family legacy
Born in Bogotá in 1986, Uribe Turbay belonged to a family with a long tradition in politics. His grandfather, Julio César Turbay Ayala, was president between 1978 and 1982. His father, Miguel Uribe Londoño, held positions in the Bogotá City Council and in the Senate.
Tragedy marked his life from a young age: his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a failed police rescue after being kidnapped by “Los extraditables,” the group of drug traffickers led by r. He was only five years old at the time.
A lawyer with a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, he began his career as a Bogotá councilor at the age of 26, served as Secretary of Government of the city, and in 2022 became the most voted senator in Colombia for the Centro Democrático party, led by former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, to whom he was not related.
The day of the attack
On June 7, during a campaign tour in the Modelia neighborhood of Fontibón, Uribe Turbay stopped at a park to talk about mental health and working conditions for people with disabilities. At that moment, a 15-year-old boy shot him several times, hitting him in the head.
The , who was carrying a 9mm Glock pistol, was arrested on the spot. Subsequently, five more people were arrested for their alleged logistical participation in the attack. The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating possible intellectual authors and does not rule out political or illegal armed group motives.
Reactions and citizen protest
The news of his attack generated widespread condemnation. More than 70,000 people marched dressed in white in a “March in Silence” through the streets of Bogotá, evoking a led by Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in 1948, also assassinated while running for the presidency.
His family, who received constant support at the clinic where he was admitted, turned the place into a gathering point for prayers and vigils. His wife, accompanied by their children, thanked every gesture of solidarity and asked that the cause for which her husband fought not be forgotten.
A truncated future
With his candidacy, Uribe Turbay aimed to become the youngest president of Colombia. Although he was not among the favorites, his campaign was shaping up as a critical voice against the government of Gustavo Petro.
“May Miguel’s struggle be a light that illuminates the correct path for Colombia,” expressed Álvaro Uribe Vélez on the social network X.
The tragedy leaves his wife, four children —three from Tarazona’s previous marriage and one together— and a country reflecting on the persistent violence against its political leaders.
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