Colombia’s political right has been rocked by a double blow in August 2025, plunging the Democratic Center party—long the dominant force on the country’s conservative spectrum—into its deepest crisis since its founding. The first shock came with the conviction of its historical leader and founder, former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, who now faces legal restrictions and is barred from running for office. The second, even more devastating, was the tragic death of the party’s brightest young hope, Miguel Uribe Turbay, who succumbed to gunshot wounds this week after being attacked in June while campaigning in Bogotá. The loss of both its most influential strategist and its most promising candidate has left the party scrambling to regroup, as the nation prepares for high-stakes presidential elections in 2026.
On August 13, 2025, Colombia buried Miguel Uribe Turbay, the 39-year-old conservative senator whose assassination has sent ripples of grief and alarm through the country. At a packed cathedral funeral, his widow, Maria Claudia Tarazona, delivered a heartfelt plea: “Our country is going through the darkest, saddest, and most painful days.” She called on Colombians to break the cycle of political violence that has haunted the nation for decades. The murder, which police have attributed to left-wing guerrillas opposed to the 2016 peace accords, has led to six arrests, but the sense of loss—and the fear of a return to darker times—remains palpable.
For many, the attack on Uribe Turbay evoked painful memories of Colombia’s past, when presidential candidates were routinely targeted by armed groups and drug cartels. His own family has been marked by such violence: his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a failed police rescue operation from Pablo Escobar’s Medellín cartel. At the funeral, Miguel Uribe’s father, Miguel Uribe Londoño, reflected on the tragic repetition of history: “With all the pain in my soul, I had to tell a little boy of barely four years old the horrendous news of his mother's murder. In this same holy cathedral, I carried Miguel in one arm and the coffin of his mother, Diana, in the other. Today, 34 years later, this senseless violence also takes from me that same little boy.”
Uribe Turbay’s widow vowed that her husband’s death—at the hands of a suspected 15-year-old hitman—would not be in vain. “Miguel, I will love you every day of my life until my time comes to meet you in heaven,” she said, promising to raise their children “without hatred and without resentment.” Her words struck a chord in a country weary of violence, but also anxious about the future.
President Gustavo Petro, the incumbent leftist leader, did not attend the funeral, honoring the family’s request to avoid politicizing the event. “We’re not going, not because we didn’t want to,” he posted on social media. “We simply respect the family and we avoid the funeral of Senator Miguel Uribe from being taken over by supporters of hate.” The absence was notable, especially as former presidents Juan Manuel Santos, Ernesto Samper, and Cesar Gaviria were present to pay their respects.
Behind the somber ceremony, the Democratic Center party faces a daunting political landscape. Uribe Turbay had been the favored candidate of Álvaro Uribe, seen as the party’s best hope to reclaim the presidency in 2026. His ability to appeal to urban voters and build bridges toward the political center made him a rare asset. But his rise was not without controversy: rivals within the party viewed him as an “opportunist” who joined from the Liberal Party only in 2022 and benefited from superior financial resources and the leader’s backing. Still, his death has left the party bereft of a unifying figure and forced it to confront its own divisions.
With Uribe Turbay gone, the Democratic Center’s remaining contenders—Paloma Valencia, María Fernanda Cabal, Paola Holguín, and Andrés Guerra—face an uphill battle. None has emerged as a clear favorite, and most lack either the charisma or the pragmatic appeal needed to broaden the party’s base. Internal debates now center on the need for “unity” and “pragmatism.” As one uribista senator told Colombia One, “We cannot rule out the final candidate being from outside the party. What matters is defeating Petroism’s continuity and returning to power.” This openness to alliances has sparked tension between orthodox factions, who insist on a homegrown candidate, and those advocating for a broader coalition to attract centrist and independent voters.
The leadership vacuum has also created an opening for independent right-wing figures. Journalist Vicky Dávila, once a media darling, has seen her popularity wane due to lackluster debate performances and controversial social media posts. Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez, the current mayor of Medellín and a 2022 presidential candidate, might have been a natural bridge to unify the right, but he has publicly stated he will not run for president, preferring to finish his mayoral term in December 2027. Other regional leaders like Alejandro Char, mayor of Barranquilla, command strong local networks but are similarly ineligible due to their current offices.
Beyond the challenge of selecting a viable candidate, the Democratic Center must also rethink its political message. Relying solely on Álvaro Uribe’s legacy and opposition to Gustavo Petro is unlikely to attract younger voters or those fatigued by polarization. Some party leaders are pushing for a platform that combines Uribism’s traditional emphasis on order and security with new proposals on employment, education, and the environment. Polls suggest that voters are increasingly drawn to pragmatic candidates who promise governability rather than ideological purity.
The party’s prospects are further complicated by changing political dynamics. In 2026, the congressional presence of former FARC guerrillas—guaranteed under the peace agreement—will end, potentially shifting the balance of power. Meanwhile, hardline positions on crime, inspired by leaders like El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, are gaining traction among Colombians frustrated by violence and insecurity. Security is expected to be a central theme in the upcoming campaign, and the Democratic Center hopes to capitalize on this sentiment.
Despite his conviction and house arrest, Álvaro Uribe remains a pivotal figure. Sources close to the former president say he intends to play an active role in the 2026 campaign, participating in events and mobilizing his base, especially in strongholds like Antioquia and the Coffee Region. His influence will depend on his ability to unite the right and transfer his political capital to a candidate who may not share his hardline views entirely. The lessons of 2022—when a fragmented right helped pave the way for Gustavo Petro’s victory—are fresh in party members’ minds.
As Colombia looks ahead to the 2026 elections, the right is in a period of forced reinvention. The Democratic Center, while still central, no longer dominates the field. The deaths and legal setbacks of August have accelerated the need for new strategies and alliances. Whether the party can rally behind a single, competitive candidate and offer a compelling vision for the future remains to be seen. For now, the only certainty is that Colombia’s political landscape has been irreversibly altered, and the road to the Palacio de Nariño is wide open.
