Multiple concerns have arisen surrounding Colombia’s presidential elections next May 31, ranging from those expressed by President Gustavo Petro, who believes there is a risk of fraud, to those of the electoral authority, registrar Hernan Penagos, who denies it. There are also the concerns of Attorney General Gregorio Eljach, who has just issued a warning to public officials not to improperly participate in politics.
After several months of work on the Electoral Peace strategy, which began to take shape during the past legislative elections, the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation entered a new phase ahead of the presidential vote. Eljach announced the new stage during a meeting with territorial attorneys and delegates from across the country held in the Antonio Narino auditorium at the Attorney General’s Office building in Bogota.
“The line that must not be crossed” is the slogan of the new phase of the strategy with which Colombia’s Public Ministry seeks to warn about the conduct by state officials that can become improper participation in politics and end in disciplinary investigations or sanctions. “The duty of the Attorney General’s Office is to prevent and, if necessary, punish public servants who cross the red line of what is prohibited,” Eljach warned.
Improper participation in politics is prohibited
He also insisted that not every action or statement by a public official constitutes a disciplinary offense. He explained that the purpose of this new phase of Electoral Peace is to distinguish between the legitimate exercise of political rights and conduct that does cross the limits established by the Constitution and the law. “Participating in politics is not only a right, it is a duty. Improper participation in politics is prohibited and carries consequences,” he warned again.
For example, he recalled that public officials cannot use official resources to favor campaigns, pressure subordinates to support certain candidates, use state property in campaign activities, or spread electoral propaganda from public office.
The attorney general responded to criticism directed at the oversight body he heads for alleged slowness in dealing with complaints of political participation by public officials. In that regard, he defended the timelines of disciplinary proceedings and assured that the Attorney General’s Office cannot act solely on the basis of social media posts or media pressure.
“The Attorney General’s Office cannot become the sparring partner of terrible candidates who want to become president at the expense of the honor of institutions,” he said, while also defending the first phase of Electoral Peace. He stated that the strategy contributed to the legislative elections taking place without major questions regarding fraud or alterations of the process. “There were free, transparent, and secure elections here,” he said.
He explained that the initiative made it possible to coordinate attorneys, ombudsmen, electoral authorities, business associations, universities, and oversight agencies around electoral monitoring and the defense of democratic guarantees. As part of this new phase, Eljach signed Circular 10, a document containing guidelines on the obligations, prohibitions, and duties of public servants regarding the electoral process.
In addition, he announced that the Public Ministry will strengthen technological tools for receiving complaints related to improper participation in politics and confirmed that the educational strategy will be sent to public officials across the country through institutional channels.
The new Electoral Peace initiative comes amid a political climate marked by cross-accusations, questions regarding interventions by public officials, and growing tensions surrounding the presidential campaign. From the Attorney General’s Office, the message was clear: political participation is allowed, but there is a line that cannot be crossed.