Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced an alleged “institutional rupture” to remove him from power and again accused the Prosecutor’s Office of wanting to investigate him, for which he asked the population for a popular mobilization in his support.
Petro pointed out that “there is a serious constitutional breach when the Prosecutor’s Office investigates the president of the republic,” according to an extensive message published on the social network X.
«They have decided to break the institution. As president of the republic, I must notify the world of the mafia takeover of the Prosecutor’s Office and I must ask the people for maximum popular mobilization for decency,” said the president.
This is not the first time that Petro talks about wanting to remove him from the Presidency, as he already did so on several occasions last month, such as when he commented on a judicial record that the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court of Justice made at the headquarters of the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (Fecode) in Bogotá.
That raid was carried out as part of an investigation into the alleged illegal financing of Petro’s presidential campaign.
The investigation is based on the alleged contribution of some $127,000 that that union made to Petro’s campaign and that was not reported to the electoral authority, as required by law.
In that sense, Petro assured this Friday that “unions have been raided, torture has been used and pressure has been used on witnesses to accuse the president and they have not been successful.”
“Drug trafficking sectors, perpetrators of crimes against humanity, corrupt politicians and corrupt sectors of the Prosecutor’s Office are desperately seeking the removal of the president from the position elected by the people,” he added.
The Senate calls for restraint
In this regard, the president of the Senate, Iván Name Vásquez, expressed his surprise “at the statement of the President of the Republic suggesting a call for civil confrontation.”
“All expressions and complaints in relation to the interpretations of judicial or political events that are recorded in our country are valid and necessary within our democratic system,” Name said in a message on his X account.
However, the senator clarified, “the answer cannot be the call for the breakdown of institutions as a mechanism to resolve our conflicts. “Any challenge to our democratic institutions must be repudiated within the framework of the Constitution and the law.”
Confrontation with the prosecutor
President Gustavo Petro’s statements come in the midst of a strong political confrontation with the attorney general, Francisco Barbosa, in which they frequently accuse each other of violating the law.
The dispute has an ideological background because Barbosa, close to former President Iván Duque (2018-2022), is accused by his critics of putting the Prosecutor’s Office at the service of political interests to persecute people related to the Government while turning a blind eye to cases that They involve right-wing politicians.
On the other hand, there are those who consider that Petro, who will celebrate two years in power in August, seeks to interfere in the independence of the Judiciary since his own son, the first-born Nicolás Petro Burgos, is investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office for money laundering and enrichment. illicit, crimes that dot his presidential campaign.
In this regard, the president stated that the Prosecutor’s Office will request his “impeachment without hiding that he has carried out an unconstitutional investigation against me seeking the victory that the people did not grant them.”
«A progressive president, the first in a century, cannot be overthrown here, because legally a workers’ union contributed to a left-wing party. The time has come for popular expression,” concluded Petro.
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What are the potential impacts of President Gustavo Petro’s allegations of institutional rupture on Colombia’s political stability and governance?
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Ana Ruiz on President Gustavo Petro’s Allegations of Institutional Rupture**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. Ruiz. Thank you for joining us today. President Gustavo Petro has recently made serious allegations against the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office, claiming there is an “institutional rupture” intended to remove him from power. What do you make of these allegations?
**Dr. Ruiz:** Thank you for having me. President Petro’s statements are quite profound. He portrays himself as a victim of a concerted effort by powerful sectors, including the Prosecutor’s Office, to dislodge him from the presidency. In his view, this investigation into his campaign financing isn’t just about legality but an attack on democracy itself, which he views as a serious constitutional breach. His call for popular mobilization indicates he sees public support as a critical counteraction to what he describes as a “mafia takeover” of the Prosecutor’s Office.
**Interviewer:** He also mentioned specific instances of what he calls “raids” and coercion against unions. Can you elaborate on this aspect?
**Dr. Ruiz:** Yes, Petro referred to a raid conducted as part of the investigation into alleged illegal financing of his campaign, which purportedly involved an unreported contribution of $127,000 from the Colombian Federation of Education Workers. He claims that this type of aggressive law enforcement action is not only about pursuing legal accountability but is an instrument used by corrupt political factions against him. Whether these claims are substantiated remains to be scrutinized, but they highlight the tense atmosphere between Petro’s administration and certain judicial entities.
**Interviewer:** The reaction from political figures, such as Senate President Iván Name Vásquez, has also been significant. What does this tell us about the current political climate?
**Dr. Ruiz:** Indeed, Senate President Name’s expression of surprise at Petro’s call for civil confrontation signifies that there is a division in response to Petro’s claims. While he acknowledges the need for political expressions within the democratic framework, it suggests a concern about escalating tensions in the political landscape. The debate becomes even more complex given that not all political actors share Petro’s perspective, indicating fractures within the governing coalition and the larger political establishment.
**Interviewer:** Given this backdrop, what could be the implications for Colombia’s political stability moving forward?
**Dr. Ruiz:** The implications could be profound. If Petro’s allegations resonate with a significant portion of the populace, we could see increased civil mobilization, which might destabilize traditional political norms. On the other hand, if institutions like the Prosecutor’s Office continue their investigations without public support for Petro, it may solidify the opposing factions’ positions, leading to further polarization. Colombia’s political landscape has historically been volatile, and this situation may exacerbate existing tensions, making dialog even more crucial.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Ruiz, for your insights on this developing situation. It certainly raises important questions about governance and democracy in Colombia.
**Dr. Ruiz:** Thank you for having me. These discussions are vital as Colombia navigates this complex political landscape.