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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How significant is the investigation into Gustavo Petro’s campaign financing in shaping public perception and potential legal challenges against his presidency?
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Laura Jiménez on President Gustavo Petro’s Recent Allegations**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Dr. Jiménez. Thank you for joining us today. President Gustavo Petro recently made some strong statements about what he calls an “institutional rupture” aimed at removing him from power. Could you help us understand the context of these claims?
**Dr. Jiménez:** Absolutely, and thank you for having me. President Petro has been quite vocal about feeling threatened by investigations from the Prosecutor’s Office. He sees these actions as politically motivated attempts to delegitimize his presidency. His assertion of a ”mafia takeover” within the Prosecutor’s Office reflects his belief that there is a concerted effort, possibly involving corrupt sectors, to undermine his administration [[1](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Petro)].
**Interviewer:** Petro has called for popular mobilization in response to these threats. What might this mean for the political landscape in Colombia?
**Dr. Jiménez:** Mobilizing the public can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can energize his base and consolidate support among those who feel the political system is against him. On the other hand, it risks escalating tensions and could lead to civil unrest, especially if his claims resonate with wider frustrations among Colombians regarding corruption and governance. The president’s appeal for mass support is both a rallying cry and a potential call to confrontation, which has raised concerns among other lawmakers, including the Senate president who urged for restraint [[1](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Petro)].
**Interviewer:** The president specifically mentioned the investigation into alleged illegal financing of his campaign. How significant is that issue in this current narrative?
**Dr. Jiménez:** The investigation into Petro’s campaign financing, which revolves around an unreported contribution from a teachers’ union, is crucial to understanding the opposition’s strategy against him. If substantiated, this could undermine his legitimacy and provide grounds for legal challenges. Yet, Petro’s framing of these investigations as part of a broader conspiracy may resonate with many who distrust traditional political structures. It serves not just as a defense but as a critique of the system itself, positioning him as a champion of the people against entrenched interests [[1](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Petro)].
**Interviewer:** Dr. Jiménez, what do you think will be the implications of these developments for Petro’s presidency and Colombia’s political future?
**Dr. Jiménez:** We are at a critical juncture. Petro’s ability to rally public support will determine his political survival. If he is seen as successfully mobilizing his base, it could strengthen his position. However, this ongoing conflict with the Prosecutor’s Office may lead to greater polarization within Colombian society. Additionally, if the investigations escalate, they could result in significant political fallout not just for Petro, but for the Colombian political landscape as a whole. History shows us that such scenarios can either lead to reform or to instability [[1](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Petro)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Jiménez. It’s clear that President Petro’s situation is both complex and pivotal for Colombia’s future.
**Dr. Jiménez:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these pressing issues. It’s certainly a time of significant change in Colombian politics.
