Lawfare Against Gustavo Petro: When Justice Becomes a Political Weapon

Introduction

Since his election in 2022, Gustavo Petro has been the target of an unprecedented political and judicial offensive. Baseless accusations, relentless media smear campaigns, and judicial manipulation—everything is being deployed to cripple Colombia’s first left-wing government. This playbook, perfected in Latin America, has a name: lawfare, the insidious use of judicial institutions to eliminate political opponents. Who is behind this operation, and why? Let’s dive into the mechanics of this silent coup d’état.

A Well-Worn Strategy: Delegitimise, Neutralise, Destroy

Petro is far from the first progressive leader in Latin America to face this type of attack. Lula da Silva in Brazil, Rafael Correa in Ecuador, Cristina Kirchner in Argentina—all have suffered the same fate. The method is always the same: an avalanche of legal cases, biased trials, media complicity, and the hijacking of institutions. Now, it’s Colombia’s turn.

Since taking office, Petro has faced fierce opposition from Colombia’s traditional elites. Their goal? To erode his credibility, block his reforms, and ultimately remove him from power.

The Architects of the Judicial Coup: A Toxic Alliance

The lawfare against Petro is driven by a well-coordinated coalition of reactionary forces:

• Mainstream media manipulation

Outlets like Caracol, RCN, El Tiempo, and Semana function as attack dogs, churning out unverified allegations and biased op-eds. This propaganda machine is backed by the country’s biggest corporate interests, dead set against Petro’s social reforms.

• A compromised judiciary

Judges and prosecutors with deep ties to the old power networks are more than willing to serve as political hitmen. Bogus investigations are launched, key legal decisions are delayed, and rulings are manipulated to sabotage the government.

• The economic elite

Petro’s reforms threaten Colombia’s ultra-rich, particularly his policies on tax reform, land redistribution, and energy independence. In response, they bankroll disinformation campaigns, manufacture economic instability, and fuel media hysteria to weaken public confidence in his leadership.

Crippling Petro’s Government: A War of Attrition

This judicial and media assault is not just harassment, it is a systematic campaign designed to prevent Petro from governing:

🔹 Reform paralysis – Critical projects, such as healthcare reform and the energy transition, are repeatedly obstructed by legal challenges and a hostile Congress.

🔹 Targeting his inner circle – When they can’t attack Petro directly, they go after those around him. His son, Nicolás Petro, has been the focus of an exaggerated judicial probe—not for justice, but to tarnish the president’s reputation by association.

🔹 Fabricated scandals – Conveniently timed controversies keep emerging, precisely when Petro’s government reaches key decision points. These are manufactured distractions aimed at undermining trust in his administration.

A Threat to Colombian Democracy

The lawfare campaign against Petro is not just an attack on one man, it is an attack on democracy itself.

When elected leaders are systematically undermined by unelected forces, it means that elections alone are no longer enough to determine a nation’s future.

Colombia faces a stark choice: Will power remain in the hands of a corrupt elite willing to weaponise the law to maintain control? If this judicial coup succeeds, no progressive leader will ever be able to govern again without fear of sabotage.

Petro is the target, but the real victim is the Colombian people.

Conclusion: Wake Up or Submit?

Lawfare is a tool of authoritarianism disguised as justice. It is time to expose its use in Colombia and recognise it for what it truly is: a coup against democracy.

Those who remain silent today will be complicit in tomorrow’s dictatorship...

G.S.