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 might public mobilization in support of Petro affect his administration and its relationships with political opponents?
**Interview with Political Analyst Javier Gómez on President Gustavo Petro’s Recent Allegations and Calls for Mobilization**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Javier. President Gustavo Petro has made some significant allegations regarding an “institutional rupture” intending to remove him from power. Can you elaborate on what he has claimed?
**Javier Gómez**: Absolutely. President Petro has accused the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office of attempting to investigate him, a move he believes constitutes a serious constitutional breach. He voiced these concerns on social media, stating that the actions against him indicate a “mafia takeover” of the Prosecutor’s Office. In light of these claims, he has called for public mobilization in support of his presidency, seeking to rally the populace around what he describes as a fight against corruption and political intimidation.
**Interviewer**: This isn’t the first time Petro has suggested that there are efforts to overthrow his administration, correct?
**Javier Gómez**: That’s correct. This notion isn’t new; he’s previously mentioned it in various contexts, particularly following raids by the Prosecutor’s Office at organizations linked to his past campaign. Recently, a raid targeting the Colombian Federation of Education Workers became part of an investigation into alleged illegal campaign financing. Allegedly, this union contributed around $127,000 to his presidential campaign, which was not reported as required. These investigations, Petro argues, are politically motivated efforts to undermine him.
**Interviewer**: Petro has also described tactics such as witness pressure and even torture in these investigations. How does that play into the political climate in Colombia right now?
**Javier Gómez**: Petro’s claims of using torture and pressure on witnesses to discredit him are quite serious and suggest a heightened tension within Colombian politics. His rhetoric frames this as a struggle against powerful corrupt interests—including drug traffickers and corrupt politicians—who want him out of office. This kind of language is indicative of a very polarized political environment in Colombia.
**Interviewer**: The response from the Senate has been one of caution, with Senate President Iván Name Vásquez expressing surprise at Petro’s call for civil confrontation. What does that say about the current political dynamics?
**Javier Gómez**: It highlights the division in Colombian politics. While Petro seeks to galvanize his supporters through mobilization, Senate President Name is reminding everyone of the importance of restraint and lawful expression within the democratic process. This contrast underscores the complexities of political discourse in Colombia, where not all factions agree on the path forward.
**Interviewer**: what does this scenario suggest about Petrobras’s future and the potential for further political instability in Colombia?
**Javier Gómez**: The situation is quite precarious. Petro’s allegations and the resulting public reaction can either strengthen his support base or ignite further conflicts with political opponents and institutions. Continued tension may lead to significant political instability, particularly if public mobilization escalates. The coming weeks will be critical in determining not just Petro’s position, but the overall political climate in Colombia moving forward.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Javier, for your insights on this pressing issue. We will certainly keep an eye on how this unfolds.
