Colombia Investigates President Petro's Campaign Financing

Colombia's National Electoral Council (CNE) has initiated an investigation into President Gustavo Petro's 2022 election campaign over allegations of exceeding financing limits, with the majority of nine magistrates supporting the inquiry. The investigation targets Petro and his campaign manager, Ricardo Roa, who is also the CEO of Ecopetrol, the state-owned energy company. Claims suggest that Petro's campaign spending surpassed legal limits by 5.3 billion pesos ($1.27 million), potentially involving illicit funding from three unions. Petro has asserted that the inquiry is part of a political conspiracy to undermine his presidency, stating, 'The coup has begun.' Should the investigation advance, it will be handled by the accusation committee in Colombia's lower house of Congress, where Petro's coalition holds a majority. This scrutiny raises concerns about transparency in campaign financing and potential implications for Roa's position at Ecopetrol.