Colombian Finance Minister, Ricardo Bonilla, has resigned from his position at the request of President Gustavo Petro following accusations that he ignored bribery involving lawmakers.
The allegations, made by a former adviser last week, claim that Bonilla was aware of bribes being paid to parliamentarians in exchange for their support of key reforms proposed by President Petro.
The attorney general’s office has stated that the bribes amounted to $200,000 in public funds.
While Bonilla has denied the accusations, President Petro, in a press conference on Wednesday, confirmed that Bonilla would be replaced by his deputy, Diego Guevara.
Petro emphasized that he requested Bonilla’s resignation not because he believed Bonilla was guilty but because of the political attacks aimed at him due to his loyalty to the president.
The bribery scandal has sparked a broader wave of corruption allegations, implicating several high-ranking government officials and lawmakers from both the ruling party and opposition.
In July, the country’s intelligence chief, a close ally of Petro, resigned after being accused of overseeing bribes to expedite the passage of legislation.
Petro, who took office in 2022, has been pushing for ambitious social reforms, but these recent developments have cast a shadow over his administration.
