By Natalia Rueda 
The recent death of former presidential candidate and former mayor of Bucaramanga, Rodolfo Hernandez, has stirred controversy and sympathy in Colombia. At the age of 79, he lost a long battle against terminal cancer, spending his last months in intensive care.
Hernández was known for his forthright style and controversial statements making him a divisive figure. As evidenced by the reactions to his death, some consider him a misogynist who held disconcerting views towards women, while others saw him as a different and necessary voice in Colombian politics.
The tributes to Hernández’s life have come from a variety of sources, including Gustavo Petro who expressed his condolences and sent a warm embrace to the family. However, some of the tributes carried a less mournful tone, with several individuals postulating about what might have been if he had lived and what the implications for Colombian politics would have been.
Despite the sentiments of respect and condolences following his death, Hernández’s legacy is fraught with criminal accusations. There are allegations that he left this world without paying his debts to justice, a claim that reflects the divisions and frustrations inherent in the Colombian political landscape.