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 being 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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How might President Petro’s call for popular mobilization influence public perception of his administration amid the ongoing corruption investigation?
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Laura Gómez on President Gustavo Petro’s Allegations Against the Prosecutor’s Office**
*Interviewer:* Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Gómez. President Gustavo Petro has made serious allegations about what he calls an attempt at “institutional rupture” led by the Prosecutor’s Office. Can you tell us more about the context of these statements?
*Dr. Gómez:* Absolutely. President Petro’s comments arise from ongoing investigations by the Prosecutor’s Office into alleged illegal financing of his presidential campaign, specifically a contribution of about $127,000 from the Colombian Federation of Education Workers, which was reportedly not disclosed as required by electoral law. This investigation has led to accusations that the Prosecutor’s Office is being used as a political tool to undermine his presidency, which Petro describes as a mafia takeover of state institutions [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
*Interviewer:* Petro is calling for popular mobilization in his support. How might this resonate with his base?
*Dr. Gómez:* That’s a critical point. For Petro, mobilizing public support is vital, particularly as he paints the situation as a struggle against corruption and a fight for democratic integrity. His supporters may view this as a rallying cry against attempts to delegitimize a president who was elected by the people. Mobilization can amplify pressure on judicial institutions and assert public dissent against perceived injustices [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
*Interviewer:* There seems to be a division in the response to Petro’s rhetoric. The President of the Senate, Iván Name Vásquez, expressed surprise at what he sees as a call for civil confrontation. How do you interpret these differing reactions?
*Dr. Gómez:* The Senate President’s response highlights the tension within Colombian politics. While Petro’s supporters may see his remarks as a defense against a political coup, others in the political establishment, including some members of the Senate, may perceive this as inflammatory and potentially destabilizing. Such divisions could lead to heightened conflict between different government branches and set a precarious tone for democratic dialog in Colombia [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
*Interviewer:* In light of these events, what do you think the future holds for Petro’s administration?
*Dr. Gómez:* The future is quite uncertain. If Petro succeeds in galvanizing his support base, he might solidify his position and push back against the investigation. However, if these tensions escalate without resolution, we could see increased instability and possibly a constitutional crisis. Either way, this situation is a critical moment for Colombia’s political landscape, testing the resilience of its democratic institutions and the rule of law [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
*Interviewer:* Thank you, Dr. Gómez, for your insights into this complex situation in Colombia. We appreciate your expert perspective.
*Dr. Gómez:* Thank you for having me.