Colombia Wiretapping Scandal Puts Country in Trouble

Colombian President Gustavo Petro finds himself embroiled in a tumultuous week marked by a series of damaging events: Colombia wiretapping scandal, embezzled funds, leaked audio messages containing explicit language, allegations of campaign finance violations, and the dismissal of two prominent political allies have created a complex political crisis for the Petro administration.

At the center of the controversy are Laura Sarabia, the president's chief of staff, and Armando Benedetti, the Colombian ambassador to Venezuela and former manager of Petro's presidential campaign, per Al Jazeera.

Following the opening of an investigation by the attorney general's office into their actions, both Sarabia and Benedetti were swiftly dismissed from their positions within Petro's administration on Friday. Both individuals vehemently deny any wrongdoing.

The scandal unfolded when Semana magazine reported last month that Sarabia had subjected her child's nanny to a polygraph test, accusing her of stealing $7,000 in cash from her residence.

Disturbingly, it was revealed that the nanny's phone had been under surveillance by Colombian authorities, a surveillance operation allegedly orchestrated by Sarabia herself.

Meanwhile, Benedetti, who also employed the same nanny, claimed that Sarabia sought his assistance in suppressing the story from reaching the media.

However, their relationship soured following a dispute over Benedetti's demand for a new government position. Sarabia confronted Benedetti, accusing him of leaking the information to the press.

"Soft Coup" Is Underway in Colombia, Warns Group of Global Leftist Leaders

Following the Colombia wiretapping scandal and other troubling events, a group of prominent leftist leaders from various countries has raised concerns about what they describe as a "soft coup" taking place in Colombia. In an open letter published on Wednesday, these leaders accused the opposition of engaging in illegal efforts to oust President Gustavo Petro and his key allies, said The Intercept.

The letter was signed by notable figures such as Ernesto Samper, former president of Colombia; Gleisi Hoffmann, leader of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party; Rafael Correa, former president of Ecuador; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former prime minister of Spain, as well as Jeremy Corbyn from the UK and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, former French presidential candidate.

"Ever since the election of the country's first progressive government," the letter reads, "Colombia's traditional powers have been organizing to restore an order marked by extreme inequality, environmental destruction, and state-sponsored violence."

The letter defends the Petro administration facing a cascading series of struggles.

Right Wings Uses the Colombia Wiretapping Scandal Against President Petro

The Colombia wiretapping scandal has allowed the far right to criticize President Gustavo Petro, labeling him a hypocrite due to his longstanding opposition to government surveillance of judges, journalists, and political adversaries, according to The Guardian.

Maria Fernanda Cabal, a congresswoman from the far-right, took to Twitter to taunt Petro by referencing a phrase often used to condemn former conservative President Alvaro Uribe's alleged involvement in routine extrajudicial killings: "Who gave the order?"

Unfortunately for Petro, Francisco Barbosa, who is on the president's growing list of adversaries, is leading the investigation. Last month, Petro mistakenly claimed authority over the independent investigator, leading to a public feud between the left-wing president and the right-wing lawyer.

Petro could appoint more left-leaning allies to key positions to navigate the crisis. However, this approach may further strain his relations with other political parties and limit his ability to implement much-needed political reforms, as highlighted by Sergio Guzman, the director of Colombia Risk Analysis.

Guzman explains, "Petro finds himself caught between his grand aspirations for change and Colombia's rigid legal framework and institutions, which have little incentive to embrace reforms that may challenge their interests."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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