Colombia: lawfare against progressive Petro

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Democracy is under threat following a series of disruptive actions that Gustavo Petro's government has attributed to attempts by state institutions to undermine its progressive agenda or even remove it from office, writes NICK MACWILLIAM



REPRESENTING THE MANY: Gustavo Petro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, last year Photo: Palacio do Planalto / CC

IN a statement issued on February 3, Colombia’s governing Historic Pact coalition called on the Attorney General’s Office to “end the persecution of the elected government and respect institutionality.”

Concerns have increased over the Attorney General’s impartiality, as well as that of the Inspector General’s Office, over their connections to the hard-right opposition sectors and their targeting of government ministers and supporters.

Both Attorney General Francisco Barbosa and Inspector General Margarita Cabello were appointed by the former government of Ivan Duque and have acted as thorns in the side of the progressive movement since prior to President Gustavo Petro’s election in June 2022.

“We demand that the outgoing Attorney General Francisco Barbosa, [Vice-Attorney General] Martha Mancera and Inspector General Margarita Cabello stop the politically biased attacks on our government,” said the Historic Pact. “The constant threats, lies and attacks perpetrated by the bodies of control represent a threat to the country’s stability and an affront to democracy.”

. . .

Petro and the Historic Pact have compared the current situation to “lawfare” campaigns conducted against progressive governments and politicians in Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina and, most recently, Guatemala.

More:
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/colombia-lawfare-against-progressive-petro