Colombia’s Constitutional Court intervened to suspend an investigation into alleged illicit campaign financing involving President Gustavo Petro, according to AP News.
In a ruling issued on Thursday, the court determined that only Congress holds the authority to examine accusations of financial impropriety during Petro’s 2022 presidential campaign, overturning a probe by the National Electoral Council (CNE). Petro, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, applauded the decision on X.
Well done to the Constitutional Court.
The court’s decision nullifies the CNE’s investigation into whether Petro’s campaign exceeded fundraising limits by approximately $1.2 million and accepted banned contributions from labour organisations, including public school teacher and oil worker unions.
The council, an administrative body tasked with supervising electoral processes and imposing sanctions such as fines against campaign staff, had cited over a dozen unreported financial transactions. The court directed the CNE to refer its findings to Colombia’s House of Representatives instead.
Petro fiercely criticised the CNE investigation as politically motivated, framing it as part of a broader pattern of judicial resistance that has seen courts overturn key presidential decrees and appointments. While the ruling alleviates immediate pressure, it remains uncertain whether lawmakers will pursue the case.
Historically, Colombia’s Congress has never removed a president from office, even in 1996 when evidence emerged linking then-President Ernesto Samper to narcotics cartel financing.
Separately, the Attorney General’s office continues investigating his son, Nicolás Petro, over accusations that the campaign solicited funds from criminal sources, including a notorious former drug trafficker.
