Colombia faces dual turmoil as presidential candidate Miguel Uribe fights for his life following a shooting at a campaign rally in Bogotá. The 58-year-old conservative leader was struck in the head on June 7 while addressing supporters, sparking nationwide shock and spontaneous vigils.
Hundreds gathered outside Santa Fe Clinic on Sunday, where Uribe remains in critical condition, chanting demands for political accountability. The emotional demonstration took an apocalyptic turn when a 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled Cundinamarca region – its epicenter just 30 km from the capital – briefly halting protests as buildings swayed.
While no major infrastructure damage was reported, the seismic event amplified tensions in a country already grappling with pre-election violence. Analysts note this attack marks the most severe act of political violence in Colombia since the 2022 assassination of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci.
Authorities have yet to identify suspects or motives. National Police Director Jorge Vargas vowed to deploy 'all investigative resources,' while interim President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack as 'an assault on democracy itself.'
The incident raises fresh concerns about regional political stability ahead of Colombia's October elections, with security analysts warning of potential impacts on foreign investment in Latin America's fourth-largest economy.
