Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been shaken by the resignation of Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla, following a corruption scandal that has gripped his administration.
Bonilla, who stepped down on Wednesday, faced allegations of misappropriating funds from Colombia’s disaster relief agency and attempting to influence votes on a congressional committee that handles government finances. Despite the accusations, Bonilla maintained his innocence, declaring on social media that he had not engaged in vote-buying or bribery. “I leave with my head held high, confident that my defense, grounded in truth and transparency, will prevail,” he wrote.
This marks the second resignation of a finance minister under Petro’s leadership, a period which has already seen several scandals and political challenges. Although Petro accepted Bonilla’s resignation, he publicly defended the minister, calling the accusations unfair and describing Bonilla as a “true economist, committed to the needs of his people.”
