Colombian president faces suspension order amid election probe
June 10 (UPI) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro is facing a provisional suspension order while he is investigated for alleged improper participation in electoral campaigning -- a move that would be unprecedented in the country's democratic history.
Gloria Elena Arizabaleta, president of the House of Representatives' Investigation and Accusation Commission, requested Petro's temporary suspension Wednesday as a preventive measure to avoid a repeat of the alleged conduct while the presidential runoff campaign is underway.
The commission opened the case on its own initiative after reviewing multiple posts published by Petro on his personal X account. The posts allegedly favored candidates linked to his political movement, including Sen. Ivan Cepeda, while criticizing opposition sectors during the election campaign.
The investigation also includes technical reviews of the content and requests for information from the presidency.
According to local media reports, including Blu Radio and El Tiempo, the suspension would remain in effect until 4 p.m. June 21, the day of Colombia's presidential runoff election.
Under Colombia's Constitution and electoral laws, public officials, including the president, are prohibited from using their office or public resources to influence elections or support political parties or candidates.
The measure immediately triggered a legal debate, with several constitutional experts arguing that the Investigation and Accusation Commission lacks the authority to suspend a sitting president and that such power rests exclusively with the Senate.
Interior Minister Armando Benedetti rejected the measure, calling it "improper."
In a post on X, Benedetti said: "Legally, the Accusations Commission cannot suspend the president because it is an investigative body. Only the Senate can do so after the full House acts as an accuser in criminal or disciplinary proceedings."
Previously, Colombia's Constitutional Court reaffirmed that presidential immunity grants the head of state a special jurisdiction and that the Investigation and Accusation Commission serves as the exclusive body responsible for handling such matters, rather than administrative proceedings before the National Electoral Council.
However, whether a legislative commission can directly suspend a sitting president remains the subject of intense legal debate.
The decision is already being interpreted as effectively giving Petro a green light to continue engaging in political activity during the days leading up to the presidential runoff, precisely the period covered by the suspension order issued by the investigating lawmaker, El Colombiano reported.
Rep. Jorge Alejandro Ocampo, a member of the Investigation and Accusation Commission, said no decision had been formally adopted against Petro.
"It is not true, as some media outlets have reported, that the Accusations Commission has suspended President Gustavo Petro. We are here at the commission, of which I am a member. We are only meeting today. No decision has been made," Ocampo said, according to La Razón Colombia.
Petro was in New York on Wednesday presiding over Colombia's rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council.
His official agenda includes leading a debate focused on advancing political solutions, mediation and dialogue to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, while also addressing climate change and the use of artificial intelligence under principles of international law.
The president is expected to meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at an event titled "Dignity in Democracy," which is focused on discussing progressive strategies to combat inequality.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 10:57 AM.