The president Lula (PT) expressed solidarity this Thursday 10th with the Colombian president, Gustavo Petrothe target of an investigation by the electoral body for alleged irregularities in the campaign that brought him to power. In the message, the PT member recalled the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff (PT), in 2016, and demanded respect for due legal process.
The National Electoral Council of Colombia decided, on Tuesday 8, to open an administrative investigation against Petro for allegedly violating spending limits in the 2022 election.
The Colombian president, in turn, denounced a “coup d’état” and assessed that the CNE, which is administrative in nature, does not have the authority to investigate it. He also called on his supporters to demonstrate in the streets.
“As someone who has been a victim of all types of political persecution, I express my solidarity with President Gustavo Petro”Lula published on social media. “Due legal process cannot be given up, especially when what is at stake is the will of the people democratically expressed through the ballot box.”
Lula added that, eight years ago, Dilma “was the victim of an impeachment process without legal basis and this was the beginning of a turbulent and traumatic period in the history of Brazil”.
Experts believe that the CNE can refer the investigation to the Chamber of Deputies, competent to subject the president to a political trial.
Aligned on different themes, Lula and Petro joined forces to seek a peaceful solution to the post-election crisis in Venezuela and declared themselves in favor of Latin American integration. They also stand out as the main critics of Israel in Latin America and denounce a “genocide in Gaza”.
(With information from AFP)
