International

Petro assures that CNE is taking steps towards a “coup d’état” by wanting to investigate him

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Saturday that the National Electoral Council (CNE) is taking steps towards “a coup d’état” by wanting to investigate him for possible irregularities in the financing of the electoral campaign that led him to the Presidency.

This week an investigation by the CNE became known, revealed by journalist Daniel Coronell on W Radio, which concluded that Petro’s electoral campaign in 2022 violated the spending limits established in the law and resorted to prohibited sources of financing.

“Every step taken against the president in the electoral council builds a coup d’état,” Petro estimated in his X account, who added: “Do they complain about Venezuela? In Colombia, a coup d’état against the president is advancing.”

This is because the CNE is the competent body to investigate parties, campaign managers and candidates, but the president has immunity, so the exclusive competence to investigate Petro criminally and disciplinary right now is the Commission of Inquiry and Prosecution of the House of Representatives, which has one open for this matter.

Therefore, Petro recalled that “the Constitution does not allow a purely administrative and political instance such as the electoral council, to prepare the way to suspend the president from his functions for a top investigation over which he had no more competence than 30 days after the election.”

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However, the CNE alleges that it can investigate both the campaign and the president in the administrative field, as it already did with the campaign of former presidents Iván Duque and Juan Manuel Santos, and with it impose fines or refunds.

The CNE investigation against Petro

The investigation carried out by the CNE, led by the magistrate of the Liberal Party Benjamín Ortiz and the uribista Democratic Center Álvaro Hernán, and which according to the president “has no binding force”, concluded that Petro’s campaign crossed the limits by more than 5.3 billion pesos (1.27 million dollars) and that he also received contributions from legal entities, something explicitly prohibited by the electoral law.

Thus, during the first round it was supposedly exceeded by 3.7 billion pesos (888,650 dollars) and there were seven violations, among which it would have been omitted to report a contribution of 500 million pesos ($120,000) from the main education union, Fecode, and another contribution of the same amount from the Democratic Pole party that is part of the governing coalition.

Among the irregularities is linked to Xavier Vendrell, a Catalan politician investigated for what happened during the Catalan ‘process’ and close to Petro, specifically for not having reported the payment to electoral witnesses during the campaign.

Vendrell, who held the position of councilor of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), worked in Petro’s campaign as head of electoral witnesses and campaign strategist, and indicated that he continued to be linked to Petro’s Government, a fact that the president has denied claiming that there are no current contracts with the former Catalan politician.

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In the second round it overcomes stops

During the second round of elections, the ceilings of 1.6 billion pesos ($382,000) would also have been exceeded and five violations would have been committed.

Among the violations, in addition to the fact that the payments to electoral witnesses managed by Vendrell were not reported, the total cost of renting the Movistar Arena event center in Bogotá, which was used by Petro to celebrate the results of the second round of elections and which cost 250 million pesos (almost 60,000 dollars) and only 150 million ($36,000 dollars) were reported, would not have been reported.

As reported by the W Radio of the CNE investigation, which has not yet been published, there would also be a lack of reports on private flights of the now president during the campaign to attend proselytising events.

International

Oil prices surge again as Middle East tensions persist

Oil prices climbed again on Friday for a second consecutive session, as markets remained concerned about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East with no tangible diplomatic progress.

North Sea Brent crude for May delivery rose 4.22% to close at $112.57 per barrel.

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approached the $100 mark, settling at $99.64, up 5.46%.

The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to delay by ten days his ultimatum for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz failed to reassure market participants.

“It means there will be ten additional days of disruptions in the Middle East for crude and refined product flows,” said Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates.

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“For prices to come down, a resolution to the conflict is necessary,” Lipow added. “And even in the event of a ceasefire, it is not certain that Iran would allow oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”

International

Young Spanish Woman Receives Euthanasia After Legal Battle, Sparking Debate

A 25-year-old Spanish woman, Noelia Castillo, received euthanasia on Thursday following a prolonged legal dispute with her father.

She passed away at a care center in Sant Pere de Ribes, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona, where she had been living for some time, according to Spanish media reports.

In an interview broadcast a day earlier on Antena 3, Castillo expressed her exhaustion after enduring prolonged suffering. She indicated that her decision was influenced by a combination of personal circumstances and health-related challenges, including family conflicts and a condition of paraplegia following a previous incident that left her with lasting physical consequences.

Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, becoming one of the few countries that allow patients under strict conditions to seek medical assistance to end their lives in order to avoid what the law defines as unbearable suffering.

The case has reignited debate in Spain over the ethical, legal, and family dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as well as the broader issue of support for individuals in vulnerable situations.

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International

Over 300 U.S. Troops Wounded Since Start of Iran Conflict, CENTCOM Says

More than 300 U.S. service members have been injured since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28, the United States Central Command confirmed on Friday.

“Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries are minor, and 273 troops have already returned to duty,” said U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, indicated that 10 American troops remain seriously injured.

According to the latest figures, an additional 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began, including seven in the Gulf region and six in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces warned on Friday that hotels hosting U.S. troops in the region could be considered legitimate military targets.

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“When U.S. forces enter a hotel, from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” said armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi in remarks broadcast on state television.