Colombian Leader Petro Accuses CNE of “Coup” Amidst Campaign Finance Probe, Adding to Colombian Political Turmoil

President Gustavo Petro has accused Colombia’s National Electoral Council (CNE) of launching a “coup” against his government following their announcement of an investigation into his 2022 presidential campaign finances, Al Jazeera reports.

The CNE investigation focuses on potential breaches of spending limits.

Petro took to social media on October 8 to denounce what he calls an attempt to overthrow him, proclaiming “The coup has begun.” He claims the investigation is a politically motivated attack by his opponents seeking to discredit him. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, described the CNE as “captured by the opposition” and accused them of “formulating charges” against him. He has urged his supporters to take to the streets to denounce the alleged coup.

Opposition leaders have dismissed Petro’s claims, emphasizing the CNE’s constitutional right to probe potential financial misconduct. They point out that previous presidents, including Ivan Duque, Juan Manuel Santos, and Ernesto Samper, faced similar investigations.

Experts note that Petro’s strong rhetoric is indicative of his increasingly strained political position. His administration has been plagued by a series of scandals, including the indictment of his son Nicolas Petro on money laundering charges. This latest crisis comes as Petro struggles to maintain control midway through his four-year term, facing criticism for his handling of peace negotiations and a failure to deliver on key elements of his reform agenda.

The CNE investigation itself is not a direct threat to Petro’s presidency. However, the potential for significant campaign finance violations could result in the case being referred to Congress’s Commission of Accusations, potentially leading to legal and political consequences.