A former Colombian foreign minister has accused President Gustavo Petro of being a drug addict, to the point of disappearing for two days in Paris during an official visit.
Alvaro Leyva Duran, who served as foreign minister under Petro for almost two years, posted on Wednesday a lengthy letter criticizing the president's way of handling both the administration and himself.
Ciudadanas, ciudadanos
— Álvaro Leyva Durán (@AlvaroLeyva) April 23, 2025
Me permito darles a conocer la carta que hice llegar ayer 22 de abril del año en curso, al señor Presidente de la República, doctor Gustavo Petro Urrego. Incluyo el sello comprobante de recibo en la Presidencia, hora 1:52 p.m. pic.twitter.com/5xm7QHwuKy
"The memories I still have fresh, where I was a direct witness, cause me pain and puzzlement. One of them, the time when you disappeared for two days in Paris during an official visit. As if French intelligence was not competent to know where you went. An embarrassing time for myself as a person and as your foreign minister. Even more so when I found out where you had been. It pains me to say it today (certainly late) but by that time I was already aware of similar episodes of yours. It was in Paris where I could confirm your drug problem, but what could I do?" Leyva Duran said in the most explosive passage of his letter.
Leyva Duran went on to express regret over not helping Petro with his alleged problem, saying that he "holds the sorrow of not having reached out." "What's true is that you never recovered," he added.
The former minister then listed more grievances against Petro: "disappearances, tardiness, trips that made no sense, incoherent rambling, questionable companions and other episodes of carelessness have taken place and continue to do so, Mr. President."
"It is well known that you have very frequently experienced times of loneliness, anxiety, depression and other issues that are hard to overcome, some high-risk ones. It is all known for people extremely close to you love you, esteem you, and feel a personal bond but don't know what to do."
Leyva Duran concluded by pleading with Petro to meet with him, saying Colombia "requires union, not chaotic confrontation fed from the presidency." "Let's avoid a social fire all together. It's possible."
La única manera para que la prensa públique cartas, es insultándome. No solo habla mal del escritor, sino de la prensa.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) April 23, 2025
¿Es que Paris no tiene parques, museos, librerias, más interesantes que el escritor, para pasar dos días? Casi todo en París es más interesante.
¿Es que acaso…
Petro seemed to answer to the allegations with a brief post. "The only way in which the press will publish letter is if they insult me." "It not only speaks poorly of the writer, but the press. Doesn't Paris have parks, museums, bookstores, more interesting than the writer, to spend two days? Almost everything in Paris is more interesting. Don't I have daughters and granddaughters in Paris, much more interesting than the writer?"
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