2024-09-17 04:00:40
In an official statement, the CNE clarified that all its actions are within the framework of the law and that there is no possibility of affecting presidential immunity in the process currently underway.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) responded to recent statements by President Gustavo Petro, who, through his account on the social network X (previously known as Twitter), questioned the administrative investigation that the entity is carrying out on his electoral campaign for the Casa de Nariño. In an official statement, the CNE clarified that all its actions are within the framework of the law and that there is no possibility of affecting presidential immunity in the process that is currently underway.
President Petro expressed his concern on social media about the ongoing investigations, which sparked a broad public debate about the scope of the CNE’s jurisdiction in cases involving a sitting president. In response to these statements, the National Electoral Council stepped forward, stating that its actions are strictly institutional and comply with the norms established by the Constitution and current laws.
“The National Electoral Council, in response to the repeated statements of the President of the Republic, which are of general knowledge, clarifies that all its actions are strictly institutional and are strictly within the jurisdiction granted by the Constitution and the laws,” the entity explained in its response letter.
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Ratified competence
The CNE also assured that its jurisdiction has been recently ratified by decisions of the Constitutional Court and the Council of State, which reinforces the legality and validity of its actions in this and other processes related to electoral supervision. These decisions support the autonomy of the CNE to investigate political campaigns and electoral financing without affecting the fundamental rights of the officials under investigation, including the president.
In its statement, the CNE made it clear that the administrative investigation underway against President Petro does not put his presidential immunity at risk. “In the particular case of the administrative investigation to which the President of the Republic refers, there is no legal possibility that calls into question presidential immunity,” the statement said.
The National Electoral Council also stated that any assumption or insinuation that contradicts this legal framework is outside the Colombian legal system. “Any allusion or presumption to the contrary ignores our legal system and is completely outside the competence of the National Electoral Council,” the entity stressed.
Finally, the CNE concluded with a call for the preservation of the stability and security of its officials, highlighting the importance of the institutional work of the electoral body being carried out without interference or external pressure.
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