The Radical Change Summit kicked off on the afternoon of November 11 in northern Bogota with the participation of former Vice President Germán Vargas Lleras, who returned to the political arena after an absence of several months for health reasons.
The event brought together the party’s congressmen, including figures such as Fouad Char and Germán Córdoba Ordóñez, and its main goal was to define the strategy for the 2026 elections.
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The meeting focused on forming lists for Congress and planning the party’s political program for the beginning of a new presidential term. The leaders discussed the selection of candidates who strengthen Cambio’s radical presence in key regions and the way in which strategic alliances with other political sectors could be strengthened.
The summit also allowed us to analyze the current challenges facing the country and the issues that will be a priority in the political campaign, such as security, education, infrastructure and economic development. The participants agreed on the need for the party to have a clear plan and an organized structure that allows it to face the elections effectively.
The community evaluated whether it was appropriate to complete its list or leave it open, following the example of the ruling party, the Historic Pact, and the Democratic Center, which had already drawn up their list with former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez in the 25th position to attract votes.
The meeting was attended by a number of bloc leaders, including: Lina María Garrido, council representative and relevant figure, whose position still raises expectations, given that she supported the previous candidate Abelardo de la Esprilla.
Senator Carlos Fernando Mutua, one of the party’s most prominent leaders, told the media that he hopes his natural boss will aspire to the presidency, highlighting his experience as a former vice president and his extensive knowledge of executive power.
“We silence the voices of critics of Germán Vargas and the Radical Party of Cambio, citing the precarious health condition of Germán Vargas. We saw him today in the best conditions, and he overcame his health problems The senator announced that he was assuming the responsibility corresponding to him as the natural head of the Radical Cambio Party.
The congressman confirmed that the court has formally submitted a request for the former vice president to eventually lead the presidential nomination. He added: “It is the best nomination we can find in the range of options available to the country.”
Mutua explained that the meeting was not intended to make a final decision, but left the door open so that it would be determined in the following weeks whether Vargas Lleras would be Cambio’s radical standard-bearer before the presidential elections.
Although many Cambio Radical members support Vargas Lleras to be an official candidate for the Nariño Council, the race includes several candidates seeking the same goal: to succeed President Gustavo Petro.
Competition continues fiercely. If the former vice president decides to run, he will have to face strong leaders such as Abelardo de la Espriilla, Iván Cepeda, and some prior candidates from the democratic center, including María Fernanda Cabal, Paula Holguín, Paloma Valencia, Miguel Uribe Torbay, as well as Juan Carlos Pinzón, Claudia López and other leaders. Everyone is looking for their place on the 2026 ticket, even those who have yet to officially announce themselves as primary candidates.
Although it has not yet been decided who the presidential candidate will be or how support will be organized in Congress, the summit strengthened the party and strengthened its unity. What is strange is that this happened after a meeting in the previous days with former presidents Alvaro Uribe and Cesar Gaviria, who are looking for a political alliance to confront President Gustavo Petro.
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