Grapevine

By Al Jazeera
Oct 9, 2024

‘Coup has begun’: Colombia’s President Petro faces campaign election probe

Colombia’s first leftist leader says the investigation into his 2022 campaign finances seeks to unseat him from power.

Election officials in Colombia have voted to launch an investigation into President Gustavo Petro’s spending during his historic 2022 campaign.

On Tuesday, the majority of the 10-member National Electoral Council (CNE) approved the investigation into Petro and his campaign manager Ricardo Roa.

The probe relates to alleged violations of campaign finance limits by Petro and Roa, who currently serves as the chief executive of Colombia’s majority state-owned energy company, Ecopetrol.

Petro, who became Colombia’s first leftist president following his 2022 election victory, quickly dismissed the investigation as an attempt to unseat him.