Dramatic Turn in Colombian Politics: The Uribe Attack Unearths History of Political Turmoil
Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay undergoes surgery due to a brain hemorrhage caused by an assault.
In a shocking turn of events, Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay has been urgently rushed to surgery, suffering from a severe cerebral hemorrhage after more than a week in the hospital. This incident follows a tragic shooting during a campaign event in Bogotá, a mere presidential candidate of the Democratic Center party. The assault has once again exposed the painful wounds of a nation plagued by guerrilla warfare and illegal drug trafficking.
Latest medical reports confirmed the unfortunate discovery of an "acute intracranial hemorrhage," making Uribe's recovery a critical challenge as he remains in critical condition. The senator was under continuous care at the prestigious Santa Fe Foundation hospital, where he undergoes daily tests.
Rekindling the Ashes of Political Violence in Colombia
This latest attack on Miguel Uribe revives the memory of political violence in a country that had gone 30 years without such a significant incident.
Going back to the troubled 1990s, the once peaceful streets of Medellín were dominating under the reign of one of Colombia's most feared criminals, notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. Through his ruthless operations, Escobar committed countless murders, kidnappings, and intimidations against whoever boldly dared to speak out against drug trafficking.
Pablo Escobar: A Bloody Tale of Colombia's Cruelest Criminal
Operating under the motto "plata o plomo" (silver or lead), Escobar extorted and bribed the country's powerful political leaders to ensure unfettered access to his illicit activities. The connection between narcotrafficking and political spheres is evident in the impunity that still surrounds Escobar's crimes since his demise.
In modern Colombia, since the arrival of Gustavo Petro as president, the government is active in managing over nine peace processes, six of whichExperiencing numerous crises. As a candidate prior to coming into power, Petro himself fell victim to a shooting on his car. Various attacks, including the one against Vice President Francia Márquez during an official trip in 2024, along with dozens of social leader homicides in 2025, testify the alarming rise of political violence recently.
As Colombia moves forward with present challenges, its brutal history of political violence serves as an urgent reminder of the matters that still need attention.
The latest attack on Senator Miguel Uribe highlights the ongoing connection between politics and crime in Colombia, a connection that became notorious during the reign of Pablo Escobar, who bribed political leaders to ensure his illicit activities thrived. This incident serves as a distressing reminder of the political violence that persists in the country, despite the efforts of President Gustavo Petro to manage peace processes. The troubling rise in political violence, evidenced by various attacks and social leader homicides, underlines the need for continued vigilance and action in the realm of health-and-wellness, general-news, and crime-and-justice. This average citizen's wellbeing hinges on the average political climate, a climate that continues to be overshadowed by the specter of past turmoil and the potential for future unrest.
