Marxist former President of Colombia Gustavo Petro confirmed Thursday that he intends to travel abroad as the country finds itself in the aftermath of this week’s deadly earthquake.
\n\nArticle 196 of the Colombian Constitution states that a former president may not leave Colombia within the first year of having stepped down from office without an authorization from the Colombian Senate. Former President Petro concluded his four-year presidency on August 7, 2026, when he was succeeded by conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella.
\n\nLocal outlets reported this week that Petro presented a travel authorization request to the Colombian Senate on Monday, August 10 — the same day a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the South American nation, leaving at least 281 deaths, nearly 4,000 injured, and 379 missing as of the most recent death toll published at press time.
\n\nAccording to the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, Petro requested authorization to leave the country, citing commitments of a “personal, social, political, and academic nature” spanning the next year. The former president did not disclose where he intends to travel or what activities he intends to engage in abroad, but reportedly requested that his request be submitted to a vote at the Senate’s next…
Original source: https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/
