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.”
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.
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
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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