Francia Márquez's political movement rejected Leyva's mentions in audio recordings: "They create a dangerous narrative."

Soy Porque Somos, the political movement of Vice President Francia Márquez, rejected former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva's mention of the high-ranking official in audio recordings in which he allegedly asked the United States for help in removing President Gustavo Petro from power.

" We categorically reject the irresponsible statements made by former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva Durán, in which he baselessly and recklessly links the Vice President of the Republic, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, to this alleged coup d'état," the statement reads.

And they add: " These claims are not only baseless, but they also constitute a dangerous narrative that seeks to sow distrust and division in Colombian society and in the political project of the Government of Change."

The movement reiterated its support for the vice president's statement, in which she requests that the Attorney General's Office launch an investigation into the former foreign minister's audio recordings.

" As a political movement, born from excluded territories and people, and that has walked alongside Francia Elena Márquez Mina in building a more just, equitable, and dignified country, we reaffirm our commitment to the political project of change, the same one that won at the polls with the support of millions of Colombians who dream of an inclusive and transformative democracy," they stated.

Along the same lines, they stated: "We reaffirm our willingness to continue supporting the unity of the popular movement, the defense of territories as spaces for life, and the consolidation of peace with social, environmental, racial, and gender justice. We urgently call on the leftist, progressive, and humanist forces of Colombia to protect this political project and, accordingly, to review and dismantle the racist, classist, and sexist practices that, openly or covertly, continue to reproduce the same logic of exclusion and stigmatization that we have historically denounced."

After the audio recordings became public, President Gustavo Petro asked his vice presidential running mate for explanations, and they responded with a statement denying any involvement in a plot against the president. Now, the vice president has asked the Attorney General's Office to investigate the allegations.

"I have asked the Attorney General to thoroughly investigate the events that suggest an alleged plot to undermine our democracy. All necessary clarification must be provided without delay," Márquez said in a tweet.

Along those lines, he called for " surrounding and defending institutions and democracy" and then reaffirmed his position that he has no connection to the controversy: "With a clear conscience, but firmly, I insist on my rejection of the infamous accusations that call into question my conduct before the authority represented by the president. I have never lent myself to conspiracies; I am not anyone's instrument."

In that message, Márquez presents a letter addressed directly to prosecutor Luz Adriana Camargo. In it, the vice president explains that the audio recordings "involve me in an alleged plan that would undermine democracy, institutionality , and directly President Gustavo Petro," and therefore calls for swift action from the prosecutorial body.

"I consider it of the utmost importance that the country promptly learn the truth about what happened," explained Márquez, who requested that "the necessary judicial investigations be carried out without delay , in order to clarify what happened and thus contribute to maintaining a just order."

Maria Alejandra Gonzalez Duarte