The Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo, stated that the National Electoral Council (CNE) does not have the powers to investigate the president of the RepublicGustavo Petro.
(Read more: These are the eight new articles that were approved to enter the labor reform)
Cristo’s pronouncement comes shortly after the CNE issued the resolution that formally opens the investigation against Petro’s presidential campaign for the alleged violation of electoral limits in 2022.
The head of the political portfolio indicated that “Once again it must be noted that the presidential jurisdiction is comprehensive and the CNE is wrong to investigate the presidential candidate when he already holds the dignity of head of state. He has no jurisdiction.”
The official also indicated that no authority other than the Impeachment Commission of the House of Representatives “can investigate the conduct of the President of the Republic in office and bring charges against him.”
For its part, The president accused the CNE magistrates of committing a crime. President Petro has insisted that the beginning of an investigation against him is the equivalent of the beginning of an alleged coup against him.
(Read more: Colombia is getting ready to host this important event with the OECD)
(Read more: COP16 Biodiversity in Colombia: five key points about this event)
“The document, by stating, with the signature of officials, that the president of the republic has been investigated, completely breaks the rule of law, the National Constitution and the block of constitutionality, due to the flagrant rupture of the American Convention, which the Council of State, guardian of that convention, since he was mayor of Bogotá, should never have allowed”he highlighted.
The President also reiterated that “The signing officials are involved in the crime of malfeasance due to fraudulent action. And the Colombian people are legitimately empowered to act, as they decide, against the coup d’état.”
It should be noted that in the 399 page document The court explained in detail the reasons that led it to investigate the president and four other people from his campaign, among them Ricardo Roa, who was the manager and currently serves as the president of Ecopetrol.
(See: Powers of the judicial police that a High Court will have for the first time)
PORTFOLIO