Fico responds to Petro after accusations by a CNE co-judge

The mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, responded harshly to President Gustavo Petro after the president’s accusations of an alleged conflict of interest in the decision of the National Electoral Council (CNE) that sanctioned his presidential campaign for violating financial limits.

The controversy arose after former mayor Daniel Quintero published a video pointing out that fellow judge Majer Nayi Abushihab, who participated in the CNE decision against Petro’s campaign, would be the same lawyer who represents Gutiérrez in a conciliation process before the Prosecutor’s Office.

“Fico’s lawyer, who was a presidential candidate, is the one who ends up failing, saying that there were cost overruns in Petro’s campaign. That’s how justice can’t work in Colombia.”Quintero stated in his message, to which Petro quickly joined.

The president reiterated his position on social networks: “We do not accept from our dignity and from the defense of democracy and universal right that it is the current and paid lawyer of Fico, a member of the opposition, who judges our conduct as a political movement and imposes fraudulent sanctions on us.”

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However, the response from the mayor of Medellín was forceful: “Petro, in the few months you have left, at least respect Justice. Dr. Majer Abushihab is a lawyer; due to his career and recognition he is also a co-judge of the CNE. This is perfectly legal, although you seem to ignore the meaning of that word.”

Gutiérrez emphasized that the CNE decision was not the product of a lawyer’s personal position, but rather a resolution by qualified majority where six magistrates voted declaring that the presidential campaign violated the limits, omitted reports and received financing from prohibited sources.

“Rather explain to the country this serious thing: a president would have been elected illegally and would have dedicated himself to making pacts to give benefits to bandits and terrorists such as Calarcá and many others,” added the local president.

The mayor also accused Petro of creating “smoke screens” to divert attention: “All of Colombia knows that if you are trying to turn this story around to attack a lawyer, the guard must be very big.”