NewzVille International
Colombia’s Constitutional Court has halted an ongoing investigation by the country’s electoral court into President Gustavo Petro, ruling that only the House of Representatives has the authority to investigate a sitting president.
The probe was related to alleged irregularities in the financing of Petro’s 2022 presidential campaign. The court’s decision effectively ends the electoral court’s proceedings against the president himself.
While the ruling shields Petro from direct investigation by electoral authorities, it does not fully close the case. Campaign staff, including auditors, the treasurer, and the campaign manager, could still face financial penalties if wrongdoing is proven.
Legal experts say the outcome cannot result in President Petro’s immediate removal from office. No Colombian president has been removed through a political trial in Congress in the past three decades.
The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between Colombia’s political and judicial institutions as Petro continues to face scrutiny during his administration.
