The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, showed solidarity this Wednesday with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petroafter the electoral authority of that country announced that it will investigate him for alleged irregularities during his campaign.
“I want to make public, clearly, our solidarity with President Petro,” said the Mexican president, who took office just a week ago, at the beginning of her daily press conference.
The electoral authority of Colombia (CNE) decided on Tuesday to initiate an administrative investigation against Petro for allegedly violating spending limits in his 2022 campaign for the equivalent of about $880,000, as reported by said institution.
“Our support and solidarity when there is injustice is always part of our policy,” added Sheinbaum Pardo, in what represents a a boost to his Colombian counterpartwho has called for popular protests against the CNE decision.
Petro is exposed to financial fines, but not to loss of office. However, experts point out that the CNE can send a copy of the investigation to the House of Representatives (Lower House) so that the president can be impeached.
Among those investigated is Ricardo Roa, manager of Petro’s campaign to come to power in 2022 and current head of the state oil company. Ecopetrol, and its treasurer. Also leaders of Colombia Humana and Unión Patriótica, the main left-wing political movements in the country.
Since the investigations into these alleged irregularities began, the president insists that the electoral authority is being used to overthrow him.
