The 2026 presidential elections have been marked by constant accusations against President Gustavo Petro and his officials for improperly participating in politics to favor the candidacy of Iván Cepeda (Historic Pact).
Three weeks before the second round of the presidential election, the president has yet to comply with the order given by the Council of State to refrain from disseminating electoral propaganda. There are several proceedings against him in the Commission of Accusations for his constant participation in the campaign, and the Attorney General’s Office has opened 142 files and has already suspended two ambassadors and a high-ranking official.
Despite it being prohibited and even with files that could lead to sanctions, President Petro remains active in the campaign and recently said he is ready to “take the lead” and defeat Abelardo de la Espriella.
He mentioned that three million more votes are needed to keep the Casa de Nariño and spoke without evidence of an alleged fraud, which has been denied by the Registry Office and all the international and national missions that monitored the first round on May 31.
Petro’s involvement in the campaign has been such that several sources from the Casa de Nariño claim he is considering a ministerial shake-up so that several officials join Cepeda’s campaign, including the Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, who was key in his 2022 campaign.
Carlos Carrillo
The most recent measure was against the director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), Carlos Carrillo, after he answered a question related to President Petro at a press conference called to announce the start of the tropical cyclone season.
The question posed to Carrillo was precisely about the political participation of President Petro, who this week said he would “take the lead” in the campaign to defeat Abelardo de la Espriella, the most voted candidate last Sunday, May 31.
Carrillo’s response was enough for the attorney general to suspend him. “I consider that the president is a man who feels a real affection for the Colombian people and wants a better and fairer country. I understand the concern that an openly fascist project is rising in Colombia. When 10.3 million people vote for a candidate who promises to gut the other half, the president’s concern is understandable,” he said.
According to the director, he learned of his suspension through press headlines, as he had not been properly notified. For him, this is a violation of due process. He also said he disagrees with the Public Ministry’s interpretation.
“At no time did I engage in proselytism, never promoted any candidate nor requested electoral support for any campaign. As a public official, I recognize and respect the limits established by the Constitution and the law,” he emphasized.
Alfredo Saade
Prior to Carrillo’s suspension, the Attorney General’s Office had already taken measures against the Colombian ambassador to Brazil, Alfredo Saade, a controversial official who last year, for two months, was in the presidential office chief role. He left the Casa de Nariño due to possible overstepping of his functions in the passport scheme change, a matter for which a disciplinary investigation was also opened.
On this occasion, Attorney General Eljach suspended him for several messages he posted on his X account calling on President Petro and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti to resign from their positions to join Cepeda’s campaign.
One of his messages was: “President Gustavo Petro. Victory or death. The country needs you free from ties, resign from your position show how 15 million votes are put in the ballot boxes. Rise up Colombia.”
The control body states that Saade tried to generate “his support in favor of a political campaign and be part of the controversy that the current campaign raises.”
After the measure was adopted, Saade returned to Colombia and was at Congress this Wednesday, where he assured he has not participated in politics: “That day I thought I was Benedetti’s boss and asked for his resignation, nothing more, I have not committed any wrongdoing.”
Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo
Another one under the Attorney General’s Office scrutiny is the health minister, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, who has been subject to a disciplinary inquiry to determine whether he has participated in politics to favor Iván Cepeda. Jaramillo is one of the six ministers with an open case, according to Eljach.
The case investigated by the Public Ministry took place before the first round of the presidential election, right after the minister stated that “even the dog and the cat have to go out to vote on May 31 or else we will be taken by whoever brought us here.”
The Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Health dismissed the Attorney General’s decision, not considering that what Jaramillo expressed could be interpreted as political participation.
“Jaramillo at no time invited voting for any specific candidate or party nor referred to any campaign slogan. He only referred to the importance of active citizen participation in the electoral contests,” the directorate said in a statement.
Vilma Velásquez
Another diplomat suspended by the Attorney General’s Office is Vilma Velázquez, ambassador of Colombia to Haiti and who allegedly expressed her support for Iván Cepeda.
The action originated after the dissemination of a video reproduced by various media and social networks, in which the diplomat publicly expressed her support for presidential pre-candidate Iván Cepeda during an interview granted to the Haitian media Metropole Radio and Television.
“We have a magnificent candidate who is Iván Cepeda,” is one of the phrases cited by the Attorney General’s Office in its investigation. It was the first case opened by the control body.
The call regarding President Petro
Attorney General Eljach also requested the Chamber’s Commission of Accusations a detailed report with all the complaints that have reached the office against President Petro for possible improper participation in the campaign for the Casa de Nariño.
He also reported that there are 142 files against public officials in stages of inquiry, investigation, and one for charges filing, the stage prior to sanction.
“Since March, we have initiated disciplinary investigations and preliminary inquiries for 142 files. Of those, six ministers of the National Government are being investigated. One is at the charges filing stage. I cannot give names,” he said.
This is added to the order given a week ago by the Council of State to President Petro to refrain from disseminating political propaganda “in favor or against any party, group, or political movement, through publications, official television and radio stations, or public printing.”
LAURA CATALINA PERALTA GIRALDO
Political Editorial.
