Gustavo Petro It has taken the reins of the Colombian Government with the ambitious aim of maintaining “total peace” with still active rebel groups, the ELN and so-called FARC opponents, as well as far-right formations and drug gangs. Seven months after assuming the presidency, he didn’t expect a family war to break out in the middle of that hilly road: alleged corruption by eldest son and brother causes an unexpected political storm front.
On the day he received his command qualifications on August 8, Petro said, “After all, we are here against a history that says we will never rule, against the ordinary, against those who do not want to relinquish power.” In turn, it assured him that it came with the flags of transparency and honesty necessary to bring about ambitious social and economic reforms.
However, a scandal touched his office in Palacio Nariño after Day Vásquez, the ex-wife of his son Nicolás Petro Burgos, assured Bogota magazine ‘Semana’ that the young MP had received $125,000 from a suspicious character. election campaign. He is none other than former narcotic Samuel Santander Lopesierra, known as the Marlboro Man. He is also linked to Alfonso ‘el turco’ Hilsaca, who is on trial for murder. “Everything happened behind your father’s back, I have to make it clear,” Vásquez said. He also revealed resentment in his desire to speak: he had been cheated on with someone else. The ex-spouse condemned the threats against her and asked for the prosecution to be protected.
And this is where you startAn unfinished soap opera. The president learned of his eldest son’s adventures through his second daughter, Andrea Petro. So he asked the prosecution to investigate not only Nicolás Petro, but also his brother Juan Fernando, who had met with imprisoned drug traffickers during the election campaign to discuss the president’s idea of peace. Complaints soon came to light regarding alleged payments to lawyers who would promise to arrange assistance to detainees on behalf of the brother.
Dad stands out
“I didn’t raise him, that’s the truth,” Petro told the magazine a few days ago. To change, talking about Nicholas. “He grew up in Córdoba. He studied there. He graduated from university. We never had a chance to live together“. Journalist Daniel Coronell interviewed him,”definite guilt complexCoronell demanded that Petro “know that there is no satisfactory explanation for the standard of living his son lives” and that the prosecution should take action on the matter as the justification.
“I did not receive money from drug trafficking or corruption“, the eldest son said this Tuesday. “I will only appeal to the relevant judicial bodies, there I will certify my innocence.” Nicolás Petro denied owning a luxury apartment. to privacy, they are right,” he defended himself.
reflections
“Scandals that touch the family circle open cracks in society. principal asset: The portal “La silla vacía” drew attention to the idea that it represented the coming of a profound change, not only ideologically, but also in its political practices and aesthetics. The soap opera has a special influence on some of its voters, the left and Petro’s inner circle also allow for less popular figures like the ex-president Ivan Duke, return to the public stage. “In this case, what is sought is to be handled with institutional robustness, not in a sick way, and I hope institutions do their part.”
For analyst and political adviser Ángel Becassino, the president is paying an unexpected political price. “Gustavo’s campaign created high expectations in people. There is a perception that he does not react with these scandals. He waited too long for the country to have another story, and when this other story comes, it behaves as before. the damage is too great“.
According to Juliana Uribe Villegas, columnist for the newspaper ‘El Tiempo’, “perhaps it is too early to state with certainty that we are sure of Nicolás Petro’s condition. return to old politics“Forensic investigations are ongoing to find out how this story continues. But Uribe Villegas felt that society no longer accepted the ‘resignation’ and the bad practices of governments. “This precedent that directly ties the president’s son together could have a start. It is a major challenge for civil society and it is to demonstrate its independence from the new government or whoever will lead it in the future”.