BOGOTA, Colombia – Carlos Holmes Trujillo, a hopeful president of the ruling party who served as defense minister, died early Tuesday of a viral pneumonia associated with Covid-19, the government said.
Mr Trujillo, 69, was admitted to hospital on January 11 after showing symptoms of the coronavirus. He was transferred to the intensive care unit four days later. Although his condition has been stable in recent days, a statement from the government states that he started to deteriorate overnight and died shortly before 02:00
“This is one of the most painful moments we have ever experienced,” said President Iván Duque. “I ask God for strength and always for hope. I accompany his family and his loved ones. ”
A former Cali mayor, diplomat and minister in various governments, Mr. Holmes Trujillo mnr. Duque served as foreign minister and, most recently, as head of Colombia’s large army. Colombia’s security services, working closely with the US, face dual challenges of increasing drug trafficking and an increase in violence in remote regions where drug gangs hold the position.
“The United States has lost a great friend and ally,” said U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Philip S. Goldberg. “Personally, I am deeply saddened by the loss of a friend and colleague with enormous talent.”
The death leaves a void for the ruling Democratic Center Party, which is trying to decide on a candidate who can win in next year’s presidential election. It is expected that Mr. Trujillo, who has sought the party’s nomination in the last two elections, will re-position, although he has not declared his candidacy in public. Mr Trujillo was close to Álvaro Uribe, a former president who heads the party.
“He was a likely leading candidate,” said Sergio Guzmán, an analyst at Colombia Risk. He added that Trujillo is expected to leave his post in the coming months to begin the campaign.
Mr Trujillo is one of the more senior government officials in the world who died in the pandemic. His death drew sympathy with allies such as Israel and even the rival government in Venezuela. Mr Trujillo openly supported the Venezuelan opposition movement.
“He was a great friend, civil servant and an important ally in the fight to save freedom and democracy in Venezuela,” said Julio Borges, an opposition leader living in Colombia.
A country of 50 million, Colombia, was hit hard by the pandemic, with 52,000 deaths.