Colombia: Electoral authority investigates Petro’s presidential campaign after audio leak

The electoral authority of Colombia opened this Monday an investigation against the presidential campaign of Gustavo Petro for alleged irregular financing, in the midst of a scandal over illegal wiretapping, blackmail and briefcases with dollars dotting the government.

The former ambassador of Colombia in Venezuela, Armando Benedettiand the former right hand of the president, Laura Sarabiathey must respond to the agency on July 13 for “alleged irregularities in financing” of the Petro campaign, indicated the National Electoral Council.

LOOK HERE: Colombian politicians ask Petro for explanations for audios of the former ambassador in Venezuela

Benedetti and Sarabia, who until a few days ago belonged to the president’s close circle, were removed from the government on Friday when a case with domestic overtones escalated to a national scandal.

Semana magazine published some recordings in which Benedetti is heard angry and threatening Sarabia, the former chief of staff, with revealing illegal financing for the Petro campaign for some 3.5 million dollars and assures that if they did, they would all go to the jail.

“Laura (…) We all sank. We’re all done. We’re going to jail (…) With so much shit that I know, well, we’re all screwed, if you screw me, I’ll screw you”, say the audios flooded with profanity, attributed to the former ambassador and in which his interlocutor cannot be heard.

Benedetti, a seasoned traditional politician, was instrumental in the victory of the first left-wing government in the country’s history and introduced Petro to his former private secretary, Sarabia, who would later become the president’s right-hand man.

The president assured on Twitter that the government has not ordered “telephone interceptions, or illegal raids (…) nor have money been received in the campaign from people linked to drug trafficking”.

“I do not accept blackmail, nor do I see politics as a space for personal favors”, he added, and expressed his solidarity with Sarabia for receiving “enormous pressure”.

In a message on Twitter, the former ambassador assured that the audios revealed by Semana “have been manipulated” and asked “excuses to the president“Ya Sarabia”for assault and malicious attack”.

MORE INFORMATION: Petro compares his political situation with the case of Pedro Castillo in Peru

In response, Petro asked him “explain his words before the prosecution and the country”.

political thriller

The scandal began at the end of May after a briefcase with thousands of dollars was stolen from Sarabia’s house. The former chief of staff’s babysitter ended up being questioned with a polygraph at the presidential headquarters and then police intercepted her phone conversations using a false police report linking her to drug traffickers.

Sarabia and Benedetti shared the same babysitter and accuse each other of conspiracy in an intricate story that still leaves more questions than answers. The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case.

After the publication of the audios, the president of the lower house, the official David Racerannounced that “the discussions of the reforms are frozen” government in that body of the legislature, where they already faced obstacles to become a reality.

In power since August, Petro started his government with the support of the left and some traditional parties in Congress.

But the coalition has been falling apart over the months and is increasingly distanced from his ambitious reforms: reduce private participation in the health system, redistribute unproductive land and reform the labor system, as well as the pension system.

ALSO SEE: Former Colombian ambassador to Venezuela threatens to reveal secrets of Petro’s presidential campaign

His initiative to disarm illegal armed organizations in exchange for legal benefits was also suspended.

The new setback is particularly thorny for the self-described “government of change”, pointed out now to resort to old political practices. According to the most recent survey of invaderthe approval of his management went from 50% in November to 34% in May.

The Foreign Ministry announced this Monday the new ambassador in Venezuela, Milton Rengifowho was part of the mayor’s office of Petro in Bogota (2012-2015).

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.