Gustavo Petro has been president of Colombia since June 2022, after more than 200 years of conservative governments. The first big problem, the first scandal, comes from his own family. The Colombian Prosecutor’s Office announced last Friday the opening of an investigation for the accusations against Nicolás Petro of having received money from an illegal source.
Who is Nicolas Petro?
Nicholas is Petro’s eldest son and deputy of the Atlantic assembly. He was born on June 21, 1986 and his mother is Katia Burgos, the first wife of the now Colombian president.
He grew up far from his father, then an M19 guerrilla.. He studied Law at the Pontifical Bolivarian University and then a master’s degree in Climate Change and a master’s degree in Government and Public Management (the latter in Barcelona, at the Pompeu Fabra University).
Back in Colombia, he chose, like his father, the path of politics. He settled in Barranquilla and In 2018 he already ran for the governorship of Atlántico. He did not win, but managed to occupy a seat in the Assembly of that department of Colombia.
That race already caused him a first scandal. The National Electoral Council investigated him for two years for possible irregularities in the Atlantic campaign. In December 2022, he was fined 14,900,000 pesos (less than 3,000 euros).
Who accuses you?
The accusation has been made by Day Vásquez, ex-wife of Nicolás Petro. She assures that the 2022 presidential campaign received “dark money”, money from ex-drug dealers.
Speaking to the magazine WeekVásquez has accused her ex-husband of have received money Samuel Santander Lopesierra, alias ‘El hombre Malboro’ and Alfonso Hilsaca, alias ‘El Turco Hilsaca’, both linked to drug trafficking and criminal record.
“Nicolás received money from that man (Samuel Santander López Sierra, alias ‘The Marlboro Man’) more than 600 million for the father’s campaign. That never legally reached the campaign because he kept that money and so did others,” Vásquez said.
What is the president’s son accused of?
The ex-partner insisted that Nicolás received the money and other elements in exchange for favors to obtain state contracts. However, Vásquez did not confirm the relationship between Petro and the others involved.
Supposedly, the money was delivered by former congressman Samuel Santander Lopesierra, convicted of drug trafficking in the United Statesand the businessman Alfonso Hilsaca, investigated for alleged conspiracy to commit a crime and commit homicide.
According to the accusations, it would be bribes so that some criminals could appear as managers of the Paz Total project raised by the Colombian president. On December 31, Gustavo Petro announced a ceasefire with five illegal armed organizations.
In a more generic way, the ex-wife of Nicolás Petro assures that her ex-husband wanted to make money taking advantage of his last name. “Nicolás Petro dedicated himself to doing business, in quotes, business here and there in the name of the father, without the father knowing“, Day Vásquez told Week.
Are there more defendants?
The accusations about alleged bribes not only reach the son of Gustavo Petro, but also extend to his brother, Juan Fernando. In fact, the Prosecutor’s Office has been investigating him since January for allegedly having received payments from convicts in exchange for being included in the peace negotiations that the president hopes to do with criminals as part of his “total peace” policy.
During the 2022 election campaign, the brother of then-candidate Petro He visited prisons across the country. That journey generated one of the most important controversies of the electoral contest.
What do the defendants answer?
Both Nicholas and John Ferdinand Peter They deny the accusations. The first, who released a statement, announced legal actions against his ex-partner.
“I allow myself to reiterate your request before the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation to advance thorough and effective research with the issues related in said statement and clarify any harmful and unsubstantiated rumors against me,” said Nicolás.
“My former sentimental partner conducted an interview in which he linked me with Mr. ‘Santa López Sierra’ and ‘el Turco Hilsaca’, people whom I do not know, with whom I have not had dealingsnor have I received any type of support, either directly or indirectly,” wrote the son of President Petro.
What does President Petro say?
Last Thursday Gustavo Petro asked the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the accusations against his son, as well as his brother, Juan Fernando, who according to Vásquez agreed to pardons with criminals.
“my government will not grant criminal benefits in exchange for bribes. On the contrary, we are in the construction of legal mechanisms so that these groups outside the law avail themselves of justice, make reparation to the victims and stop the violence in the cities and other territories,” Petro said in a statement.
“My commitment to Colombia and Colombians is to achieve peace, and whoever wants to interfere in that purpose, or take personal advantage of it, has no place in the government, even if they are members of my family“, wrote the president. “I trust that my brother and my son can prove their innocence, but I will respect the conclusions reached by justice,” ends the text that he shared on social networks.