The death of Uribe Turbay once again exposes the political polarization in the country.

The funeral of Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay on Wednesday highlighted the weariness with violence, but also the deep political and ideological divisions between the right-wing opposition and the country's left-wing government.

The farewell to Uribe Turbay, 39, who died last Monday, August 11, two months after being seriously wounded in an attack, brought together a large part of the national political class in two solemn events, one in the Elliptical Hall of the National Capitol, where he lay in state, and another in the Primate Cathedral.

(See: Colombia is not alone in 'this difficult moment': US deputy secretary of state. )

Also present to bid farewell to the senator from the right-wing Democratic Center party was a U.S. government delegation comprised of Undersecretary of State Christopher Landau; Republican Senator Bernie Moreno; and John T. McNamara, head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Bogotá. At both venues, speakers praised the slain senator, called for justice, and advocated for an end to violence in politics, especially as the country prepares for the 2026 legislative and presidential elections, with accusations of murder against President Gustavo Petro still mounting.

" Miguel, who was a critical and reasoned opposition leader, was murdered with the instigation of revenge induced by the President of the Republic, who found it a crutch to accuse former President (Julio César) Turbay, grandfather of our martyr, of being a murderer and torturer, " said former President Álvaro Uribe in a speech read at the Capitol by the national director of the Democratic Center party, Gabriel Vallejo.

(See: 'We know where the violence comes from': Miguel Uribe's father at the senator's funeral .)

Former President Uribe, who was sentenced earlier this month to 12 years of house arrest for procedural fraud and bribery in criminal proceedings, was unable to attend the senator's funeral, but he did deliver a speech containing harsh accusations against Petro.

" In his angry statement, the President of the Republic sought to ignore the contribution made to the peace process with the M-19 by former President Turbay and Diana, Miguel's mother, murdered by narcoterrorism in 1991," Uribe added.

These comments were a reference to messages from Petro on his X account in which he accused former President Turbay (1978-1982) of taking " ten thousand Colombians to torture " during his government, in which he confronted the fight against the M-19 guerrillas with the so-called 'Security Statute ' , of which the current president was a part in his youth.

" In the history of assassinations in our country, there has been political hatred and criminal acts, but we are facing the exceptional case of a presidential, instigating speech ," added former President Uribe, who is not related to the senator.

Petro responds to Uribe

Hours later, Petro responded with a message on his X account in which he said: " Álvaro Uribe is full of poison, he ignores the genocide of the Patriotic Union (UP) and the State's participation in it ."

The UP, which is now part of the ruling Historical Pact party, was founded in 1985 as part of an attempt at a peace agreement between then-President Belisario Betancur and the FARC guerrillas, but in the following years the party fell victim to genocide.

(See: 'I will love you every day of my life': the emotional farewell from Miguel Uribe's wife .)

At least 5,733 members of this Colombian leftist party were murdered or disappeared, including presidential candidates Jaime Pardo Leal (1987) and Bernardo Jaramillo Ossa (1990), according to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP).

The country calls for 'a change'

" This war has its culprits and those responsible, we know it. We have no doubt where the violence comes from. We have no doubt who promotes it. We have no doubt who allows it. We have to stand up to this and say: No more, no more, no more. We cannot remain resigned and simply passive, " said Miguel Uribe Londoño, father of the slain politician, at the farewell at the cathedral. After noting that "the country is clear about where the violence comes from," Uribe Londoño stated that the bullets "silenced Miguel, but they will not silence the voices of millions of Colombians crying out for change."

(See: Álvaro Uribe's speech honoring Miguel Uribe is 'full of poison,' says Petro .)

"We have a unique opportunity to stop this madness in 2026. Let's not waste it," he said of next year's elections, urging everyone to "fight together to build a country without violence, a country of opportunity, a Colombia with a future."

These words echoed those of Senate President Lidio García, who said it was "everyone's duty" to shed light on the murder of Uribe Turbay, whom he said "was a light in dark days" and that is why "it pains the soul that in Colombia lights like Miguel go out in the middle of spring."

" We have to act. We have to tone down the incendiary language, banish aggression from the debate, and close the gaps that divide us ," García said, demanding a lower tone in political discussion, characterized by strong polarization.

Due to this political tension, neither Petro nor anyone in his cabinet attended the funeral at the express request of the family.

" We are not going (not) because we do not want to, we simply respect the family and prevent the burial of Senator Miguel Uribe from being taken over by supporters of hate ," the president said in X.

(See: Former President Uribe accuses President Petro of instigating the murder of Uribe Turbay .)

EFE