The Colombian Foreign Ministry assured this Tuesday that democracy in Colombia “is in danger” after the Plenary Chamber of the National Electoral Council of Colombia (CNE) opened an investigation and charged the president’s campaign, Gustavo Petro, for allegedly violating the limits of his campaign.
“With all responsibility, but with all clarity, we tell the world that democracy in Colombia is in danger and we are going to defend it and the best way to do so is to make known the situation that is occurring,” the vice minister of Colombian Foreign Relations, Jorge Rojas.
The CNE considered this Tuesday that Petro, as a candidate; The manager of his campaign, Ricardo Roa, and other members of his team must respond “for the alleged violation of the financing regime of the electoral campaigns”, since it is suspected that they exceeded the established spending limits and resorted to prohibited sources that they did not declare. .
Determination
Rojas considered that the determination of the electoral body denies “the constitutional jurisdiction that assists the president and generates an environment of political destabilization.”
Petro himself has said in his X account that “the coup d’état has begun” in relation to the CNE decision, which is of an administrative nature.
Vice Minister Rojas recalled that Petro has precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and “we are also seeking a ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IDH Court) because “they want to circumvent the presidential election and the vote through political mechanisms. popular”.
According to the CNE “the candidate, campaign manager, treasurer and auditors are accused of allegedly violating the spending limit in the first round campaign for the sum of 3,709,361,342 pesos (about 878,000 dollars today).”
Second electoral round
In relation to the second electoral round, held on June 19, 2022, Petro’s campaign, according to the CNE, also allegedly violated “the spending limit for the sum of 1,646,386,773 pesos (about 389,541 dollars today).”
Finally, the National Electoral Council also indicated that it brought charges against the Colombia Humana Political Movement and the Patriotic Union for “allegedly allowing the financing of the presidential campaign, with prohibited financing sources.”
These sources were supposedly legal entities, in this case the same teachers unions (Fecode) and the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO), as well as the company Ingenial Media SAS.
Bogotá / EFE
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Analysis: Is Colombia’s Democracy in Peril?
A recent statement from the Colombian Foreign Ministry has raised significant concerns about the state of democracy in the country. According to Vice Minister Jorge Rojas, democracy in Colombia “is in danger” due to the National Electoral Council of Colombia’s (CNE) investigation into President Gustavo Petro’s campaign for allegedly violating campaign financing limits [[https://latinoamerica21.com/en/democracy-is-losing-ground-in-the-world-is-colombia-immune-to-this-global-trend/]]. This alarming declaration comes at a time when democracy is facing challenges worldwide.
Colombia has been plagued by a low-intensity asymmetric war between the government and far-right paramilitary groups since 1964, known as the Colombian conflict [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_conflict]]. This ongoing conflict has led to significant humanitarian crises, further exacerbating the country’s instability [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Hlotbq624]]. In this context, it is crucial to assess the potential threats to Colombia’s democratic system.
The current investigation into Petro’s campaign raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. If the allegations are true, it would undermine the legitimacy of the government and potentially embolden anti-democratic forces. The Colombian Foreign Ministry’s warning that democracy is in danger suggests that the stakes are high, and the situation demands attention from the international community.
Moreover, the fact that the CNE has opened an investigation into the President’s campaign indicates that there are checks and balances in place to ensure accountability. However, the outcome of this investigation will be crucial in determining the future of Colombia’s democracy.
In recent years, there has been a global trend of democratic backsliding, and Colombia is not immune to this phenomenon [[https://latinoamerica21.com/en/democracy-is-losing-ground-in-the-world-is-colombia-immune-to-this-global-trend/]]. The international community must remain vigilant and support democratic institutions in Colombia to prevent further erosion of democratic principles.
while the situation in Colombia is dire, the country is not beyond redemption. The Colombian government, civil society, and the international community must work together to protect the integrity of the electoral process and uphold democratic values. The world is watching, and it is essential to ensure that democracy prevails in Colombia.
The quote from Vice Minister Rojas is striking: “the best way to defend democracy is to make known the situation that is occurring.” It highlights the critical role of transparency and international attention in protecting democratic values. As a global community, we must stand in solidarity with the people of Colombia and support their pursuit of democratic governance.
