Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks in BogotĂĄ, Colombia, on May 1, 2024. Photo: Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters.
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has warned that a process is underway to depose him, stating that âthe coup d’Ă©tat has begun.”
His comment was made this Tuesday, October 8, just minutes after the Colombian National Electoral Council (CNE)âan entity not constitutionally qualified to investigate the head of stateâagreed to start an investigation and open a charge sheet against him, which extends to three members of his campaign, due to his alleged responsibility in violating the limits established for the 2022 presidential race.
In addition to the president, the electoral body agreed to investigate his then-campaign manager, Ricardo Roa BarragĂĄn; the campaign treasurer, MarĂa Lucy Soto Caro; and the auditor, Juan Carlos Lemus GĂłmez, as well as the Colombia Humana and UniĂłn PatriĂłtica parties.
Ha comenzado el golpe de Estado.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 8, 2024
Last May, investigative magistrates BenjamĂn Ortiz and Ălvaro HernĂĄn Pradaâboth linked to opposition partiesâsubmitted a report in which they referred to alleged violations of electoral spending limits, exceeding 5.355 billion pesos (about $1.2 million).
The allegations are based on undeclared funds, ranging from donations and payments, to electoral witnesses, to the cost of air travel and the rental of venues used for campaign events.
Petro responds and presents his records
The head of state of Colombia denied these accusations, clarified in detail the origin of the money in question, and added that the CNE has included in its case acts prior to the start of the campaign, such as an erroneous invoice that was later amended and a biased calculation of flight hours. Inclusion of these items does not correspond with the procedure established for such cases.
âOnly afterwards, and under pressure from some far-right press, and by political decision of those groups, did they begin another investigative process with a report focused on finding loopholes where there were none with one purpose,” he stated in a post published on September 17, “to carry out a coup d’Ă©tat,â he stated in a post published on September 17.
The Colombian president called on the people to mobilize as much as possible to prevent the institutional coup from taking place.
Todas las organizaciones populares del pais deben entrar en asamblea permanente. La hora de la movilizaciĂłn generalizada del pueblo colombiano ha llegado.
El presidente constitucional de Colombia elegido por el voto popular ordena a la fuerza pĂșblica no levantar un solo armaâŠ
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 8, 2024
Petro had already openly denounced that the CNE was trying to strip him of his immunity, since that state entity lacks constitutional authority to investigate him. âAllowing the unconstitutional stripping of immunity is for the purpose of initiating a coup d’Ă©tat,â he had stated back in September.
He added to these accusations that his political adversaries, in collusion with “the mafia,” referring to organized crime and drug trafficking cartels, were plotting to oust him from power within a period of three months by means of an assassination or an unconstitutional dismissal.
They violate the constitution
Once it was made public that the CNE would investigate Petro, various Colombian officials and political personalities close to the government coalition were quick to question the decision.
âThe CNE did not investigate [IvĂĄn] Duque for ñeñepolĂtica [financing politicians with drug trafficking money]. It did not investigate [Juan Manuel] Santos for Odebrecht. They are investigating Petro without having the authority,” said former senator Gustavo BolĂvar. “That is called a coup d’Ă©tat. We will not let them steal with their papers what they lost in the territories and at the polls.”
Senator Martha Peralta also echoed the president’s words, stating that a “coup d’Ă©tat” had begun, because, according to local legislation, “the only authorities competent to investigate” the President of the Republic are “the Accusations Commission of the House [of Representatives]” and the Senate.
âThe decision of the CNE to bring charges against President Gustavo Petro establishes a precedent that violates the Political Constitution and puts the separation of powers at risk,” warned Senator MarĂa JosĂ© Pizarro. “Even worse, it gives rise to an investigation that could lead to a coup d’Ă©tat. Those of us who defend democracy must reject this decision and be alert to any situation that puts our popular mandate at risk.”
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/AU
