Gustavo Petro

Nicolás Petro, the president's son, was prosecuted for illicit enrichment and money laundering. According to prosecutors, he stated that some irregular funds had ultimately reached the 2022 presidential campaign.

State of the evidence

Documented

Reuters reported that Petro's conduct featured in two US federal investigations concerning drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

The chair of a Chamber committee proposed the provisional suspension of Petro for alleged interference in the campaign in favour of Iván Cepeda.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Abelardo de la Espriella's victory, Petro alleged irregularities in the electoral process and challenged the validity of the result during the transition.

Attribution

Personally implicated

The controversies over campaign financing, the UNGRD, US investigations and proceedings concerning his son have not, according to the sources verified, resulted in a personal criminal conviction of Gustavo Petro.

State of the evidence

Documented

As president, Petro continued publicly using M-19 flags and references, drawing criticism from victims and opponents. In 2025, his statements about the seizure and retaking of the Palace of Justice reignited debate over the memory of the episode.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The National Electoral Council considered that Petro's 2022 campaign had exceeded spending limits by approximately 5.3 billion pesos and opened proceedings against the campaign and several officials.

State of the evidence

Documented

The Constitutional Court ruled that the CNE could continue examining the campaign and other officials but could not directly investigate Petro as president, as that power belonged to the Chamber's Commission of Accusations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Petro refused entry to US military aircraft carrying deported Colombians, demanding dignified treatment for migrants. Donald Trump immediately announced tariffs and sanctions; Bogotá ultimately agreed to accept the returnees under revised arrangements.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The ELN offensive in Catatumbo caused dozens of deaths and displaced more than 50 000 people. Petro suspended negotiations with the ELN, dealing the most serious blow to his Total Peace strategy.

State of the evidence

Documented

The UNGRD scandal, initially centred on overpriced water tanker trucks, expanded into allegations of bribes and contracts used to secure support in Congress. Petro acknowledged his political responsibility for appointing Olmedo López.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Ricardo Bonilla left the Finance Ministry after being implicated by testimony in the UNGRD scandal, deepening the political crisis for Petro's government.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Following attacks attributed to a faction of the Estado Mayor Central, including one that killed an Indigenous woman, the government suspended the ceasefire in several regions, exposing the limits of the Total Peace strategy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

An ELN attack on a military base killed two soldiers and wounded numerous other service personnel. Petro stated that the attack had practically brought the peace process with the guerrilla group to an end.

State of the evidence

Documented

Petro announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Israel, accusing its government of genocidal actions in Gaza. Israel strongly condemned the Colombian president's decision and statements.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Petro announced a bilateral ceasefire with several armed groups, including the ELN. The ELN publicly denied having agreed to the truce, and the government had to suspend the decree concerning it.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The proposed healthcare system reform caused a rupture with coalition parties and moderate ministers. Petro carried out a major cabinet reshuffle as his legislative programme faced increasing resistance.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

A former nanny employed by chief of staff Laura Sarabia was subjected to a polygraph test at premises linked to the presidency and subsequently placed under unlawful surveillance in a police investigation. The crisis led to the departure of Sarabia and Ambassador Armando Benedetti.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Recordings of Armando Benedetti referred to approximately 15 billion pesos that he claimed to have mobilised for Petro's campaign and threats to reveal compromising details about its financing.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights found Colombia responsible for violations of Petro's political rights and judicial guarantees in the process that led to his removal as mayor.

The Procurador General removed Petro as mayor of Bogotá and barred him from holding public office for fifteen years in connection with the management of the waste collection crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

As mayor of Bogotá, Petro sought to transfer a large proportion of waste collection rapidly to a public entity. Implementation resulted in several days of rubbish accumulation and a public health and political crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Gustavo Petro joined M-19, a Colombian urban guerrilla movement, at a young age before being arrested and imprisoned. He subsequently participated in the political process opened by M-19's demobilisation and the 1990 peace agreement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility