Colombian Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla has resigned at the request of President Gustavo Petro following allegations of his involvement in a bribery scandal targeting parliamentarians.
Bonilla faced accusations from a former adviser who claimed he was aware of lawmakers being bribed with $200,000 in public funds to support key reforms. While Bonilla denied any wrongdoing, President Petro announced during a press conference on Wednesday that Bonilla would be replaced by his deputy, Diego Guevara.
Petro emphasized that his decision was not an admission of Bonilla’s guilt but a protective measure. “I asked for Bonilla’s resignation not because I believe he is guilty, but because they want to destroy him for his loyalty to me,” Petro stated.
The bribery accusations are part of a broader corruption scandal implicating top government officials and lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties. In July, Petro’s intelligence chief resigned after being accused of orchestrating payments to parliamentary leaders to expedite legislative processes.
Petro, who assumed office in 2022, has faced mounting challenges in implementing his ambitious social reform agenda, with the scandal further complicating his administration’s political standing.
