Right-wing candidate Federico Gutiérrez on Tuesday (3) defended the safety of his main rival, left-wing Gustavo Petro, who has been shown as the favorite in Colombia’s May presidential election and condemned the plot to kill him.

“I ask all authorities to investigate and protect the safety of the candidate (Petro), his family and his supporters,” Gutiérrez told reporters in Bogotá.

The 62-year-old Petro, the leader of the voting intentions for the May 29 election according to various opinion polls, had planned to visit the coffee growing axis in the country’s midwest, but was forced to suspend his campaign activities due to suspicions. the existence of a plan to kill him.

According to Petro’s team, the candidate’s security team “got firsthand information” that the paramilitary organization La Cordillera planned to kill him between Tuesday and Wednesday during his visit to the area.

While the government and police reacted to the complaint that they had no intelligence about the alleged plot against Petro, the Ministry of Public Affairs announced that it had launched an investigation to clarify the suspicions.

Although Gutiérrez defended the security of the senator and the ex-guerrilla, he also condemned the attacks on social networks by the opposition campaign and ELN propagandists, the last guerrilla recognized in Colombia.

“We ask the Colombian state to guarantee absolute security so that the campaign can run,” said the 47-year-old presidential candidate.

“No candidate today is immune from radicalism and armed groups,” he said.

Gutiérrez, known as “Fico”, will seek to be elected by a coalition of right-wing and traditional parties to replace President Iván Duque, who by law cannot be re-elected.

According to polls, Petro would have won in the first round, if not the boost needed to avoid a second round against Gutiérrez, which will take place on June 19.

The former mayor of Medellin (2016-2019) accused supporters of Petro, a former guerrilla who fought the state with arms before signing the peace, of implementing a “policy of death” with constant attacks on his campaign.