Casi Treintena de Congresistas Apoyan Moción de Censura contra Ministro Benedetti
Moción de Censura Filed Against Minister Armando Benedetti
Table of Contents
- Moción de Censura Filed Against Minister Armando Benedetti
- Moción de Censura Against Minister Armando Benedetti: Key Questions Answered
- Key Questions and Answers
- What is a “Moción de Censura”?
- Who Filed the Moción de Censura Against Minister Benedetti?
- what are the Main Reasons for the Moción de censura?
- What Statements by Minister Benedetti are Under Scrutiny?
- Which Political Parties Support the Moción de Censura?
- What are the Key Accusations of Corruption?
- What is the Status of the Investigation into “Papá Pitufo”?
- Summary of Concerns
- Key Questions and Answers
Published: March 20, 2025
before Jaime Raúl Salamanca, the President of the Chamber of Representatives, a moción de censura has been filed against the new Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti. The document has the support of 28 congressmen from various political parties.
The Moción de Censura Against Armando benedetti
The document asserts that,despite his short time in office,Benedetti “ya ha incurrido en graves faltas que justifican su citación a un debate de moción de censura” (has already incurred serious faults that justify his citation too a debate of censure motion). It further states that, following the sinking of the labor reform in the Senate’s Seventh Commission, the minister made “inaceptables” (unacceptable) statements that not only threaten the integrity of congressmen who received death threats but also constitute a violation of the separation of powers.
minister’s Statements Spark Controversy
The minister’s recent statements have ignited further controversy:
Yo quisiera ver en el Senado quién se va a atrever a negarle al pueblo que se exprese sobre cierta ley o cierto proyecto (…) Hay una clase dirigente que finalmente está en contra de una votación popular, entonces a eso es lo que vamos a apelar a las movilizaciones, a la calle (…) Ellos son los que se quedan con la plata, ellos son los que van a perder, por lo tanto, ellos son los enemigos (…) Que dejen el miedo… que nos digan rápido que sí y nos vamos a elecciones.
Translation: “I would like to see in the Senate who will dare to deny the people the right to express themselves on a certain law or project (…) There is a ruling class that is ultimately against a popular vote, so that is what we are going to appeal to mobilizations, to the street (…) They are the ones who keep the money, they are the ones who are going to lose, therefore, they are the enemies (…) Let them leave the fear… let them tell us quickly yes and we go to elections,” the minister recently stated.
Who Supports the Moción de Censura Against Benedetti?
According to Representative Jose Jaime Uscátegui (Centro Democrático), the promoter of the moción de censura, the initiative has the backing of congressmen from parties such as the Centro Esperanza coalition, Cambio Radical, Conservador, Alianza Verde, Nuevo Liberalismo, and independents.
“Esperamos la fecha en la que la Cámara de Representantes tendrá la oportunidad de demostrar su descontento y su independencia frente al Gobierno y el Ministerio del Interior,” (We await the date on which the Chamber of Representatives will have the opportunity to demonstrate its discontent and its independence from the Government and the Ministry of the Interior) he added.
Following this protest,it was announced that a moción de censura would be filed against Minister of the Interior,Armando Benedetti,who “a pesar de no llevar más de un mes en el cargo ya ha incurrido en graves faltas que justifican su llamado a un debate de moción de censura en la Cámara de representantes” (despite not being more then a month in office has already incurred serious faults that justify his call to a debate of censure motion in the Chamber of Representatives).
Uscátegui denounces a series of attitudes that include threats against congressmen after the labor reform failed,jeopardizing the independence of powers.The moción de censura aims to address these concerns.
Critics also point to alleged corrupt links related to the “Clan Torres” and the illegal financing of Petro, with the arrival of Jaime Luis Berdugo Pérez as vice Minister of the Interior, who allegedly represented companies of the “Clan torres” with multi-million dollar state contracts.
Furthermore, there are warnings about leaks revealing that Benedetti allegedly negotiated positions in customs to favor “Papá Pitufo,” who allegedly contributed $500 million to Petro, among others. “También,dado su poder en el Ministerio del Interior, puede interferir en la investigación que se adelanta en Cancillería por violencia de género,además de poder interferir indebidamente en la extradición de Marín Buitrago” (Also,given his power in the Ministry of the Interior,he can interfere in the inquiry being carried out in the Foreign Ministry for gender violence,along with being able to unduly interfere in the extradition of Marín Buitrago),they add.
“Existe preocupación que el ahora ministro Benedetti aprovecha su poder político corrupto para incidir en la investigación interna que le adelanta la Cancillería por violencia de género, así como también es un riesgo que intervenga indebidamente en el trámite de extradición de alias ‘Papá Pitufo’ hacia Colombia, el cual se encuentra en proceso” (“There is concern that the now Minister Benedetti is taking advantage of his corrupt political power to influence the internal investigation being carried out by the Foreign Ministry for gender violence, as well as it being a risk that he unduly interferes in the extradition process of alias ‘Papá Pitufo’ to Colombia, which is in process), Uscátegui explained at the time.
>Que dejen el miedo… que nos digan rápido que sí y nos vamos a elecciones.
Translation: “I would like to see in the Senate who will dare to deny the people the right to express themselves on a certain law or project (…) There is a ruling class that is ultimately against a popular vote, so that is what we are going to appeal to mobilizations, to the street (…) They are the ones who keep the money, they are the ones who are going to lose, therefore, they are the enemies (…) Let them leave the fear… let them tell us quickly yes and we go to elections,” the minister recently stated.
Who Supports the Moción de Censura Against Benedetti?
According to Representative Jose Jaime Uscátegui (Centro Democrático), the promoter of the moción de censura, the initiative has the backing of congressmen from parties such as the Centro Esperanza coalition, Cambio Radical, Conservador, alianza Verde, Nuevo Liberalismo, and independents.
“Esperamos la fecha en la que la Cámara de Representantes tendrá la oportunidad de demostrar su descontento y su independencia frente al Gobierno y el Ministerio del Interior,” (We await the date on which the Chamber of Representatives will have the opportunity to demonstrate its discontent and its independence from the Government and the Ministry of the Interior) he added.
Following this protest,it was announced that a moción de censura would be filed against Minister of the Interior,Armando Benedetti,who “a pesar de no llevar más de un mes en el cargo ya ha incurrido en graves faltas que justifican su llamado a un debate de moción de censura en la Cámara de representantes” (despite not being more then a month in office has already incurred serious faults that justify his call to a debate of censure motion in the Chamber of Representatives).
uscátegui denounces a series of attitudes that include threats against congressmen after the labor reform failed,jeopardizing the independence of powers.The moción de censura aims to address these concerns.
Critics also point to alleged corrupt links related to the “Clan Torres” and the illegal financing of petro, with the arrival of Jaime Luis Berdugo Pérez as vice Minister of the Interior, who allegedly represented companies of the “clan torres” with multi-million dollar state contracts.
Furthermore, there are warnings about leaks revealing that Benedetti allegedly negotiated positions in customs to favor ”Papá Pitufo,” who allegedly contributed $500 million to Petro, among others. “También,dado su poder en el Ministerio del Interior, puede interferir en la investigación que se adelanta en Cancillería por violencia de género,además de poder interferir indebidamente en la extradición de Marín Buitrago” (Also,given his power in the Ministry of the Interior,he can interfere in the inquiry being carried out in the Foreign Ministry for gender violence,along with being able to unduly interfere in the extradition of marín Buitrago),they add.
“Existe preocupación que el ahora ministro Benedetti aprovecha su poder político corrupto para incidir en la investigación interna que le adelanta la Cancillería por violencia de género,así como también es un riesgo que intervenga indebidamente en el trámite de extradición de alias ‘Papá Pitufo’ hacia Colombia,el cual se encuentra en proceso” (“There is concern that the now Minister Benedetti is taking advantage of his corrupt political power to influence the internal investigation being carried out by the Foreign Ministry for gender violence, as well as it being a risk that he unduly interferes in the extradition process of alias ’Papá Pitufo’ to Colombia,which is in process),Uscátegui explained at the time.