Colombia’s political tensions deepened this week following serious allegations made by a former senior official against President Gustavo Petro.
In a scathing open letter, 82-year-old Alvaro Leyva, once Petro’s foreign minister and close confidant, accused the president of drug addiction—an assertion Petro vehemently denied.
Leyva, who had been a key ally and peace negotiator in several governments, claimed that Petro disappeared for two days during a 2023 state visit to Paris.
According to Leyva, the absence allowed him to “confirm” suspicions about the president’s alleged drug use, though he offered no evidence to support the claim.
“These were humiliating moments for me both personally and professionally,” he wrote.
Petro was quick to respond via social media, labelling the accusation defamatory. “This is pure slander,” he said, noting that French intelligence services closely monitor visiting heads of state.
He explained that he had spent the contested two days with his daughter and grandchildren, who live in Paris. “My only addiction is to love,” he quipped.
The claims ignited a political uproar, with opposition figures demanding that Petro undergo drug and mental health evaluations to verify his ability to govern.
Critics have long questioned Petro’s behaviour, referencing his history of tardiness and a past incident where he admitted to being intoxicated during a campaign event.
Despite this, Petro has consistently denied any drug use, while also expressing progressive views on narcotics policy.
He has previously suggested that cocaine’s dangers are overstated, once remarking, “Whiskey kills more.”
Leyva’s relationship with Petro began to unravel in early 2024 after he was suspended over alleged irregularities in a passport contract.
Although Petro initially defended him, calling the disciplinary action politically driven, tensions between the two steadily grew.
Leyva had hinted at drug-related concerns in the past, but his latest letter marks his most direct accusation yet.
Petro dismissed the criticism with sarcasm, suggesting Leyva was less engaging than Paris itself.
“Aren’t the parks, museums, and bookstores in Paris more appealing than the letter’s author?” he asked. “Don’t I have family in Paris daughters and granddaughters far more interesting than him?”
Under Petro’s leadership, Colombia has seen record-high cocaine production and slower progress in eradication efforts.
Nevertheless, the president insists his true vice is Colombia’s national beverage. “My only addiction,” he reiterated recently, “is coffee.”