Gustavo Petro Defends Presidential Campaign Amid ​Investigations

In ⁣the midst of a complex and contentious⁣ political environment, President Gustavo Petro has offered a clear⁢ defense of his presidential campaign in response to recent⁢ investigations⁣ by the National Electoral Council (NEC).

Through his official social⁢ media account, Petro addressed the accusations surrounding his campaign finances, which have been categorized into three ‌main areas: donations from unions, activities ⁢held outside the‌ official campaign period, and errors in⁣ the ⁢billing of air and television services.

Donations from Unions to Political Parties

One of the⁤ key points of contention is ⁤the claim that unions⁤ have made donations to Petro’s campaign, such as those from the USO and Fecode. According⁢ to Petro, these contributions ⁤have⁤ been misinterpreted as campaign expenses. “All parties have received​ donations from large companies during the campaigns, with the exception of the left-wing parties, which have mainly⁤ relied on trade unions. In our case, the campaign refused all donations from legal entities, complying with the ‌law,” he explained.

The president argued that union donations were directed to left-wing political parties and his own activities, not as campaign expenses. Petro accused the NEC of applying unequal criteria, allowing other right-wing parties to receive corporate donations without the same level of scrutiny.

Activities Before and After the Official‍ Campaign Period

Another point of⁢ discussion is the inclusion of activities carried out before the start and after the end⁤ of the ‌campaign in the NEC reports. Petro explained that the law allows the Registration Office to⁣ define the start and end of ⁢the campaigns. However, he noted that some political ​activities leading up ⁣to his candidacy and post-election events ‌were misclassified as​ campaign⁤ expenses.

“Since⁣ the beginning of ⁢my government, it has‍ been treated as news that some political⁢ events before my ⁣candidacy were considered part of ⁢the campaign, ⁤which is a misunderstanding. These activities were genuine political ⁤meetings,” said Petro. He also noted that⁣ the NEC⁣ denied recognition to his party, Colombia Humana, as a political party for four years, which limited its ability⁣ to operate​ freely.

Errors in Billing for Air and Television Services

Petro addressed controversies⁤ surrounding the billing of aviation and television services. It is alleged that the use of an aircraft and the costs associated with Caracol TV are poorly documented. Petro responded that although NEC reports indicated errors in invoices,⁣ the campaign had ⁣recorded⁤ all ⁣expenses correctly.

“Some claims in the press about cryptocurrency financing and other details were unfounded,” said Petro. He explained that​ the airline’s invoices‍ had been corrected in real time and that costs had been properly allocated between the‌ different stages of⁣ the ‍campaign. The accounting of the campaign, according to Petro, was reviewed and​ approved by a NEC audit, which confirmed transparency ‍in the use of public funds.

A Call for Fair Treatment⁢ and Investigation

Petro ⁢concluded his statement by calling for fair treatment and a fair investigation into⁤ his campaign. He ensured that the aim of the recent accusations ‌and media pressure seemed to be motivated ⁣by politics rather than a search for the truth.

“It is clear that behind this investigation there is an effort to find irregularities where there are none, in⁤ order to destabilize my ⁤government and‌ create a climate of uncertainty,” said Petro. He assured that his campaign had acted in⁤ accordance with the law ​and that attempts to⁢ exceed electoral spending limits were unfounded.