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Colombia Charges Two Former Cabinet Ministers in Alleged Congressional Vote-Buying Scheme

Prosecutors in Bogotá have charged former Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla and ex-Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco with criminal association, bribery and undue conflict of interest in an alleged congressional vote-buying scheme. Authorities say public contracts were steered to companies tied to lawmakers to secure votes for government-backed legislation, and the probe has led to arrests of former congressional leaders and charges against a disaster-agency official. Both ministers deny the accusations, while President Gustavo Petro calls the actions politically motivated. If convicted, the two men face up to 27 years in prison.

08:58 AM, 12/02/2025Politics
Colombia Charges Two Former Cabinet Ministers in Alleged Congressional Vote-Buying Scheme

Bogotá — Colombian prosecutors on Monday filed corruption charges against two former members of President Gustavo Petro’s cabinet, alleging they played central roles in a scheme to buy votes in Congress.

Former Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla and ex-Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco are accused of conspiring with officials from two government agencies to channel public contracts to companies linked to lawmakers and their allies. Prosecutors say those contracts, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, were used to secure votes for legislation supported by the Petro administration — including a proposed reform of the nation’s pension system.

Charges and potential penalties

Both men face charges of criminal association, bribery and undue conflict of interest in public contracting. If convicted, each could face up to 27 years in prison, prosecutors say. The investigation has also led to the arrest of the former presidents of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and criminal charges against the former director of the national disaster-prevention agency, from which prosecutors say much of the allegedly diverted funding originated.

Responses and context

Bonilla and Velasco have denied any wrongdoing. At a hearing in Bogotá, Bonilla — a 75‑year‑old economist and long-time adviser to President Petro who resigned as finance minister last year amid the allegations — said, "I have the certainty that I have not committed any crime."

President Petro has characterized the probe as politically motivated and an attempt to destabilize his government. Prosecutors, however, say the case is part of a broader anti-corruption effort probing irregularities in how public funds were awarded and used.

The investigation remains active, and prosecutors have not publicly detailed all evidence. Legal proceedings are expected to continue as authorities gather testimony and documentation related to the alleged contracts and payments.

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