Petro confirms his stay in Colombia and denies rumors of capture

Published at: 19/08/2026 02:19 PM

The former president of Colombia Gustavo Petro said this Wednesday that he will remain in the country in the face of recent threats and denied rumors about an alleged capture or extradition against him, through a message published on his social networks.

Petro, leader of the Historical Pact, called for building a “great Alliance of the people and the world for life” and rejected disinformation campaigns that seek to isolate it and destroy progressivism through fear and lies. “I haven't disappeared, I've been in the country and I won't leave until intermittently,” said the former president, who warned of threats directed at his loved ones, including his daughter Antonella.

He also assured that “there will be no extradition or trial against me, because I have not committed any crime” and emphasized that fear is used as a basis for fascism, with the objective of paralyzing the country and plundering its natural resources. “I just need the love of the people and the beauty of my country,” he added.

Petro questioned the decision of the current president, Abelardo De la Espriella, to allow the entry of a military contingent and engineers from Israel to participate in rescue efforts after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that affected the nation. The former president questioned the purely humanitarian nature of the delegation and warned that the presence of armed military personnel without the authorization of the Senate could constitute an irregular occupation of Colombian territory.

Petro echoed complaints about the alleged inaction of Israeli rescuers at critical points of the disaster, such as the Vanessa building in Cali, and insisted that Colombia primarily requires medical personnel, nurses and rescue specialists, rather than foreign troops.

Mazo News Team