The bidding for the Ministry of ICT heats up: what do Benedetti and Ñoño Elías have to do with each other?

Until now, it has been said that everything is in place for a member of the 'U' party, or someone close to the party, to take over that portfolio, as has been the case since the beginning of the Government.

In fact, since the end of January, this newspaper published that the party led by Clara Luz Roldán, former governor of Valle del Cauca, and Alexander Vega, former national registrar , submitted three resumes to the Executive to decide who would be Lizcano's replacement, who, although no longer a member of 'la U', continued to have a lot of influence in the party.

At first, the arrival of Julián Molina, former superintendent of Subsidio Familiar, who was apparently recommended by Lizcano, gained strength. The possibility of appointing Jhon Alejandro Linares Cambero was also discussed, whose godfather would be Senator José David Name, one of the most powerful senators of that party.

A third resume was also submitted. It is that of Said Naví Lamk Beltrán, recommended by Bernardo Miguel Elías, known as Ñoño, who was convicted of corruption. Precisely for this reason, this nomination was not initially well received in the Casa de Nariño.

However, with the arrival of Armando Benedetti to the Ministry of the Interior there could be a change in that designation.

Last week, the former senator, once a powerful member of the U, met with several parliamentarians from the party with the aim of ensuring that they continue to support the legislative agenda of the Petro government.

At that meeting, which took place last week at the Casa de Nariño, there was talk of maintaining certain bureaucratic quotas, including the Ministry of ICT, Fiduprevisora ​​and Icetex.

And there they would have launched an ultimatum to Benedetti, who at that time was the head of the acting Office – his arrival at the Ministry of the Interior was made official on Monday night – to choose Lizcano's replacement.

But it is worth noting that the designated minister met twice at the Casa de Nariño with Julio Elías Vidal, brother of Ñoño, according to the records of the Presidency to which EL TIEMPO had access. The first meeting was on Friday the 14th, with entry at 4:09 pm The second took place on Monday the 17th, entry at 2:13 pm In addition, on Tuesday, February 25, when Benedetti went to Congress, he met with him.

Although no decision has been made, the version of the arrival of Ñoño's recommendation has gained strength in recent days.

The votes of the 'U' are key to the advancement of social reforms . Without them, the Government would not be successful in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.