2024-10-09 03:31:35
The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced today the opening of an investigation and formulation of charges against the presidential campaign of Gustavo Petro, corresponding to the first and second round elections of the Historic Pact Coalition.
The decision, adopted by a majority in the Plenary Chamber of the CNE, also involves the campaign manager, Ricardo Roa Barragánthe treasurer Lucy Aydee Mogollón Alfonso, the auditors María Lucy Soto Caro and Juan Carlos Lemus Gómez, as well as the political parties Colombia Humana and the Patriotic Union (UP), which supported Petro’s candidacy.
The electoral body investigates a possible violation of the campaign financing regimes, in particular, the exceeding of the spending limit for the first presidential round by an amount that amounts to $3,709,361,342. Among the irregularities indicated are the omission of key reports such as contributions from union entities and organizations, undeclared loans and expenses on electoral propaganda and electoral witnesses.
Main findings in the first round
According to the CNE, the Historic Pact campaign would have omitted the reporting of several significant transactions and contributions, among them:
A contribution of $500 million from the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (FECODE).
An undeclared loan of $500 million granted by the Polo Democrático Alternativo party.
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Payments to electoral witnesses for $931,290,000.
Expenditures on electoral propaganda for $356,102,872.
Payments made since the 2022 Senate campaign of the same coalition for $202,471,731.
Expenses for air transportation services totaling $1,249,793,230.
Contributions not reported by the Workers’ Union Union (USO) in the amount of $121,544,000.
In addition, the CNE indicates that the campaign would have received prohibited financing from legal entitieswhich would imply an additional violation of the rules that regulate electoral campaigns.
Research for the second round
Regarding the presidential second round, the CNE estimates that Petro’s campaign exceeded the spending limit by $1,646,386,773. Among the most significant reporting omissions are:
Payment for an event at the Movistar Arena for $100,000,000.
Payments to electoral witnesses for $177,680,000.
Air transportation expenses of $962,957,784.
Payments made by the Colombia Humana movement for $530,579,983.
Contributions from the USO for $379,019,511.
Political implications and saving the vote
The Human Colombia Movement and the Patriotic Union, which made up the coalition, are also under scrutiny for allegedly having allowed the entry of contributions from prohibited sources and for failing to comply with audit and transparency duties in the presentation of financial reports.
However, judges Alba Lucía Velásquez and Fabiola Márquez departed from the majority decision, saving their vote in the Plenary Chamber.
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