Although the head of state insists on the phrase “the government of change”, many citizens feel that the serious accusations facing his campaign that brought him to power over the inflow of dubious money mean more of the same, while the promises of transformations social stay on paper.
In recent weeks, two of the men closest to the president have revealed the possibility that Petro’s candidacy has been financed with dark money and also with large sums that were not reported in the accounts that were delivered to the electoral authorities.
The former ambassador of the Petro government in Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, and the son of the head of state, Nicolás Petro, have made statements about the financing of the campaign that has different judicial entities investigating what was the reality of the resources with which they were paid for the candidacy of the current president.
This opened the possibility of President Petro’s campaign being penalized for the alleged entry of obscure money and for violating the maximum expenses allowed by the electoral authorities. The president is already facing a judicial and political process in the Congress of the Republic, which could even end with his dismissal, in case it is verified that the head of state knew about these alleged irregularities.
Questions about the financing of Petro’s candidacy began on June 4 when Semana Magazine revealed some audios in which former ambassador Benedetti is heard referring to the matter. In the recordings, Benedetti hints that he would have obtained around 3.8 million dollars for Petro’s campaign and that if he talks about what he knows about the financing of Petro’s candidacy, “we all fall down.”
Days later, the president removed Benedetti from office, who is pending compliance with several judicial summons to clarify what he meant in those recordings that were known at the beginning of June.
Benedetti was one of the men closest to President Petro during the campaign and under his responsibility was a large part of the then candidate’s agenda.
Meanwhile, Nicolás Petro began a process of collaboration with the justice system after being released after being detained for several days amid accusations of illicit enrichment and money laundering.
According to the president’s son, Santander Lopesierra —convicted and extradited to the United States for drug trafficking– and Gabriel Hilsaca —son of Alfonso the ‘Turco’ Hilsaca, prosecuted for murder and criminal conspiracy– they would have given him around 270,000 dollars, part of which supposedly served to finance the presidential campaign of the current ruler.
Nicolás Petro said in a recent interview with Semana Magazine that his father did not know about the income of these resources, although he stated that there are several issues regarding the financing of his candidacy that must be clarified by the authorities with the information that he hopes to provide in his process of collaboration with justice.
Critics say that these accusations represent a severe blow to the governance of the Colombian president and at a time when the 63-year-old leftist leader seeks to advance the approval of the social reforms that he proposed in Congress. These reforms, which have to do with the health system, pensions and working conditions of Colombians, have been the subject of strong controversy since they were presented and their future now seems more uncertain.
On the other hand, during these months it is expected that the majority of congressmen will be focused on the electoral campaign to choose local leaders in all regions of the country, which would reduce the pace of work in Congress as is traditionally the case, and this could take time. the discussion of the reforms.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
