Colombian Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla has stepped down at the request of President Gustavo Petro amid allegations of his involvement in a bribery scheme involving parliamentarians.
A former adviser accused Bonilla of being aware that lawmakers were being paid to support key reforms proposed by the president. The attorney general’s office alleges that $200,000 in public funds was used for these bribes. Bonilla has denied any wrongdoing.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Petro announced Bonilla’s replacement with his deputy, Diego Guevara. The president clarified that he requested Bonilla’s resignation not because of presumed guilt but because Bonilla was being unfairly targeted for his loyalty to the administration.
The allegations are part of a broader corruption scandal implicating high-ranking government officials and members of parliament across political divides. Earlier this year, the country’s intelligence chief, a close associate of Petro, resigned following accusations of facilitating bribes to hasten legislative approvals.
Since taking office in 2022, Petro has faced considerable obstacles in implementing his ambitious social reform agenda, with the corruption scandal adding to these challenges.
