Colombia’s government publishes «white paper» on corruption by Petro – Colombia News

The government of Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella gave Prosecutor General Luz Adriana Camargo a white paper with more than 80 complaints over alleged corruption by the previous government.

The 135-page “Book of Truth that was presented by De la Espriella, contained “the result of the work carried out under the coordination of Vice President José Manuel Restrepo during the transition weeks between the presidential election and August 7” when he took office.

De la Espriella suspended the transition process on July 7 after Petro said he refused to recognize the president as his legitimate successor.

Consequently, the book contains mainly political criticisms of the previous “regime” and no evidence of misdeeds that hadn’t been picked by the Comptroller General’s Office, which monitors public spending.

This white paper, my fellow Colombians, does not intend to replace, far less anticipate, judicial investigations or the outcome of actions taken by prosecutors, inspectors, and comptrollers. The book actually represents something simpler and, at the same time, more serious, monumental, and decisive: the fulfillment of my duty as Head of State. I am fulfilling the responsibility that falls upon me by gathering available information and not allowing the facts recorded here in the book I have just delivered to be buried by silence and impunity. The duty of a leader is to bring the truth to the doorstep of justice and stop there, scrupulously respecting the independence and majesty of the judicial system. That moment has arrived.

President Abelardo de la Espriella

The president blamed the budget deficit on the “sacking” of the Petro administration rather than Congress’s failure to approve the legislation that allowed the previous government to carry out its 2026 budget.

De la Espriella previously said he would extradite Petro if the US Government asked him to.