Ex-Presidential Candidate Rodolfo Hernandez Diagnosed with Terminal Cancer

Former Colombian presidential candidate Rodolfo Hernandez disclosed he has terminal cancer during his corruption trial on March 14, 2024. The 78-year-old, who also served as Mayor of Bucaramanga, is battling colon cancer, necessitating multiple surgeries and treatments. Despite his conviction for corruption, his health condition means that Hernandez will not face prison time.

Rodolfo Hernandez, often called the “Colombian Trump”, was a key contender in the 2022 Colombian presidential election, which was won by Gustavo Petro. His run for office marked a unique political event in Colombia, introducing a populist, broad-based political movement. Hernandez garnered 47.31 percent of the votes in the runoff, showcasing significant public support for his platform.

Rodolfo Hernandez, the ascension of a political phenomenon

Rodolfo Hernandez, an engineer and successful business figure in the real estate sector, emerged as a significant national political figure with his 2022 presidential candidacy, as the leader of a populist, anti-system campaign. Previously, he first served as mayor of Bucaramanga, from 2016 to 2019, gaining recognition for his anti-corruption stance.

During the 2022 presidential campaign, Rodolfo Hernandez led the League of Anti-Corruption Governors, a political party, whose stance was encapsulated by “The Three No’s” (Las Tres No): don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t betray. The platform eventually resonated with the population’s exhaustion from corruption scandals, securing an important portion of the right-wing vote.

Vitalogic corruption case

As Rodolfo Hernandez eventually lost the presidential race to his left-wing opponent Gustavo Petro, he was caught up in corruption allegations from his tenure as mayor of Bucaramanga.

In the scandal known as the Vitalogic case, Hernandez was accused of favoring the Vitalogic company in the waste management contract award process in Bucaramanga in exchange for financial benefits for his son. As such, in May 2023, the former mayor was sentenced to 14 years of ineligibility. During the latest trial, on March 14, 2024, he was once again declared guilty of corruption, with his sentence set to be announced in the coming days.

This judicial decision will most probably remain symbolic, as the deteriorated health of the former candidate exempts him from jail sentences, according to the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights.