Since last week, the confrontation between councilor Luis Fernando Quintero and senator Didier Lobo for the endorsement of Cambio Radical for the upcoming elections was made public. Apparently, the congressman would not give the endorsement to Luis Fernando Quintero.
EL PILÓN spoke with the councilor, who pointed out that everything is a matter of ego. “We agreed to meet, but Senator Didier Lobo ignored it. On the contrary, he went to the media to say that he had full autonomy to decide who he gave the endorsement to, ”said Luis Fernando Quintero.
The division worsened after former representative Chichí Quintero made controversial statements against the senator’s family on the Candela Viva program. In response, Lobo said that he would sue him for libel and slander.
Why do you think they don’t want the Valledupar Council to participate in the list?
I have a credential as a councilor and I have not had any investigation by the party’s ethics committee, or of any kind that concludes that I cannot have the endorsement. I have never acted in bad faith.
Did it affect that your brother, Carlos Felipe Quintero, is a congressman for the Liberal party?
I think it’s something personal. I have never had a difference with the senator, but the senator commented in all the political circles that he did not give the son of ‘Chichí’ his endorsement.
What does the standard say? Is it possible to be a candidate for another party?
I have to insist on Radical Change because if they deny me the endorsement I could not be a candidate or aspire for another party. They would close the option of being popularly elected.
His father gave some statements against the senator that caused controversy…
Understand that when a child is messed with, parents sometimes react without thinking. It’s not personal. They are political things. Senator Didier Lobo said in all the crowds that he would not endorse Chichí Quintero’s son. Everyone knows my dad and they know that we are not trouble people.
No one likes to be taken away from the ability to aspire. I earned a space working and being told, out of ego and whim, that you can’t participate, is not logical.
Would you apologize to the senator for the statements?
I have not apologized, but if necessary I would. I’m not a hateful person. What I’m looking for is to team up and grow. But if for personal reasons they want to get you out, you have to defend yourself. The problem is with me.
Have you already spoken to the national board?
I requested the endorsement from the national directory. They have knowledge. We must give the political and legal fight. It is something unprecedented in Valledupar. It is one thing to deny endorsement to a person without a credential, but I have my credential and they are violating my right to be elected.
Is there a possibility of meeting again with the senator?
I have searched for it many times. The senator says that he will not deny me the endorsement, but he assured that if they gave me the endorsement he would remove his people from the list. It turns out that there are only a few days left for registrations. He is stigmatizing the party list.