president and attorney general
The verbal duel between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Attorney General Francisco Barbosa sparked controversy in the country.
President Petro affirmed that despite the information and documents in the possession of the prosecution, the armed gang “Clan del Golfo” did not do its part in the murders, and that the State seeks answers to these questions and that the prosecution should be investigated.
After Petro’s criticism, opposition parties, former heads of state and opposition media reacted to the president.
“You are putting your family’s safety at risk”
In response to Petro’s words, Attorney General Barbosa said: “The charges put the safety of the prosecutor and his family at risk, and if anything happens to them, the President (Petro) will be held responsible. I would like to remind the President, I think he forgot, Daniel Hernández was a victim of the La Rochela Massacre because his father was killed by the paramilitaries”. he used his statements.
Stating that as President he has the right to request information from the prosecutor about the Clan del Golfo, Petro said: “Our Attorney General wants to avoid an answer to a question from a journalist, which the rest of the press ignores. Is it true that he has not done anything even though he has a list that they will kill 200 people? he said.
Petro also shared on Twitter: “According to the journalist Gonzalo Guillén, the prosecution knew the list, the lives of 200 people were not only in danger but also killed by the Clan del Golfo. Prosecutor Hernández and his family must be protected, but the state deserves to know the answers to these questions.” he used his statements.
After visiting Spain on May 3, Petro told journalists during his contacts in Portugal: “The prosecutor forgets something that the Constitution mandates, I am the head of state, therefore I am also his boss.” he made the statement.
‘NOT MY BOSS’
In statements to the radio minutes later, Barbosa said that President Petro’s words meant “an attack on the independence of the judiciary” and said: “Of course he is not my boss, he is not the head of the prosecutor’s office, he has some powers, the prosecutor’s office has other powers.The Supreme Court elected me, so these words bind the Supreme Court and undermine the rule of law,” he said.
Accusing Petro of being a “dictator”, prosecutor Barbosa said the situation was alarming and the international community should speak up.
MY FAMILY IS GOING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
Barbosa, in statements to the press, announced that after his controversy with Petro, he would leave the country due to security concerns for his family.
Noting that Petro is the head of state, not the opposition, Barbosa said: “In the next few days, my family will leave the country because of what is happening in Colombia and for fear of being killed. This is not a game, nor is it something to be taken lightly.” he made the assessment of it.
In the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, it was indicated that the duties of the president and the judiciary are clearly written in the laws, recalling article 115 of the Constitution.
Former presidents Andrés Pastrana, Iván Duque and César Gaviria, who shared Petro’s words on their social networks, accused President Gustavo Petro of interfering in the judiciary.
In the Colombian press, the opposition parties, accusing Petro of being an “autocrat and dictator”, harshly criticized the ruling party in the Senate.
Social media users on the subject were also split in two. The majority demanded that Petro’s accusations be clarified.
Social media user Yesi Progresista pointed out that crimes against humanity must be investigated, saying: “If you answer why 200 people cannot be protected, you will choose the most correct method.” she used the phrase. (AA)