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.
#Petro #denounces #institutional #breakdown #remove #power
What are the implications of President Gustavo Petro’s allegations of an “institutional rupture” on Colombian democracy?
**Interview with Political Analyst Maria Lopez on President Gustavo Petro’s Allegations of ‘Institutional Rupture’**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Maria. There’s been significant turmoil in Colombian politics recently, particularly surrounding President Gustavo Petro’s accusations against the Prosecutor’s Office. Can you give us an overview of the situation?
**Maria Lopez:** Certainly. President Gustavo Petro has described what he calls an “institutional rupture” orchestrated by the outgoing Attorney General, Francisco Barbosa, aiming to remove him from office. Petro claims that the Prosecutor’s Office is seeking to investigate him, which he sees as a serious constitutional breach. He has taken to social media to rally public support for a possible mobilization against these actions, asserting that there has been a mafia takeover within the office that is meant to undermine his presidency [[1](https://justiceforcolombia.org/news/colombian-government-warns-of-attacks-on-democracy-led-by-attorney-general/)].
**Interviewer:** Why is this investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office so significant?
**Maria Lopez:** The investigation stems from alleged illegal financing of Petro’s campaign during the presidential elections, specifically linked to contributions from the Colombian Federation of Education Workers. There are allegations that this union contributed $127,000 to his campaign without proper disclosure to the electoral authorities. This is serious because if proven, it could impact his legitimacy and lead to calls for his resignation [[1](https://justiceforcolombia.org/news/colombian-government-warns-of-attacks-on-democracy-led-by-attorney-general/)].
**Interviewer:** What does Petro suggest is the underlying motive behind these investigations?
**Maria Lopez:** Petro has made bold claims that drug traffickers, corrupt politicians, and other criminal entities are behind the push to remove him. He asserts that these groups are using state institutions to execute a political agenda against him. Petro further alleges that there have been instances of pressure and even torture employed against union members and witnesses, which he argues is part of a broader campaign to discredit him [[1](https://justiceforcolombia.org/news/colombian-government-warns-of-attacks-on-democracy-led-by-attorney-general/)].
**Interviewer:** How have political figures, such as the Senate President Iván Name Vásquez, responded to Petro’s statements?
**Maria Lopez:** Senate President Iván Name Vásquez has expressed concern over Petro’s call for civil mobilization, indicating that such statements could signal potential civil unrest. He emphasized that while political expressions and grievances are necessary within a democracy, they should be pursued peacefully and constructively, reflecting the sensitivity of the current political climate in Colombia [[1](https://justiceforcolombia.org/news/colombian-government-warns-of-attacks-on-democracy-led-by-attorney-general/)].
**Interviewer:** Given the current landscape, what do you predict for the future of Petro’s presidency?
**Maria Lopez:** The situation is precarious. If Petro can mobilize his support base effectively, he may fend off these challenges, but if the investigations escalate or if public opinion shifts against him, his position could become increasingly untenable. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether he can maintain the presidency amidst these allegations and threats [[1](https://justiceforcolombia.org/news/colombian-government-warns-of-attacks-on-democracy-led-by-attorney-general/)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Maria, for your insights into this unfolding situation in Colombia.
**Maria Lopez:** My pleasure. It’s certainly an important moment for Colombian democracy.
