Álvaro Uribe, former president of Colombia, at the University: "Trust is built through sincere dialogue with the public"

Democratic security, investor confidence, and social cohesion. These are the three pillars that former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe highlighted regarding his two presidential terms during the “ lecture ” he delivered on Thursday, October 15, at the University of Navarra. The event, organized by the Gustavo CisnerosChair Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), was attended by nearly 400 students from the Pamplona campus , who had the opportunity to ask the former president questions about politics and international relations.

The event “ meeting,” held at School of Communication , was moderated by Pablo Pérez, director from Chair , and Gustavo Cisneros, Full Professor , from Historia Contemporánea. Also in attendance was historian Juan Diego Molina, a contributor to Chair and author of the doctoralthesis , *Political Change in Colombia During the Álvaro Uribe Administration (2002–2010)*, completed at the ICS.

Uribe, who served as president of Colombia from 2002 to 2010, took the audience on a journey through the major milestones of his time in office, which he described as a transition from a “vicious cycle”—one that had weighed down the country with violence, poverty, and a lack of investment—to a “virtuous cycle.” He explained the reforms he promoted in the areas of security, Economics, the reduction in the poverty rate (from 50% to 37%), and public dialogue. On this last point, he highlighted initiatives such as the holding of 306 community councils during his two terms in office, in which mayors and governors participated regardless of their political affiliation.

Reason, Emotion, and Understanding
In this regard, he emphasized that “trust is built through sincere dialogue with the public” and noted that “credibility is more important than approval.” He also asserted that, in politics, one must work with “reason, emotion, and understanding”: “We cannot advocate for policies driven by gut feelings that disregard the Constitution.”

When asked about the polarization of politics and society today, he acknowledged his concern about “sectarianism.” “Never before has there been so much class hatred in Colombia,” he lamented. He also analyzed the political shift seen in recent elections in countries such as Colombia, Chile, and Argentina: “I believe it is not due to ideology but to dissatisfaction. For change to be stable rather than erratic—and to provide security—we must ensure favorable conditions and stability for the private business , make progress on social policies, and achieve zero corruption and zero violence. We have to demonstrate progress and inspire hope.”

Regarding the role of the media, he emphasized that in a democracy it is essential to respect them and praised their role, especially in a technologically advanced and polarized society like today’s. In closing, he recommended a book, *Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times*, by Donald T. Phillips, and offered the young attendees two pieces of advice for life: “Do your day-to-day tasks well” and “surround yourself with good people.”