Full Breakdown
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro Faces Allegations of Exploiting Women for State Contracts
By Drooid · · How we work
Allegations of Exploitation
Colombian officials allege that former President Gustavo Petro arranged service contracts for 48 women so they could attend presidential-house events. According to Carlos Andrés Ríos, director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency (DAPRE), the contracts were used “systematically” to control and weaponize the women, exchanging public salaries for intimate access. The claim was presented during a congressional hearing held last week.
Petro’s Denial and Defense
He emphasized that his administration funded aid programs for vulnerable women, female heads of households and individuals engaged in sex work, describing those initiatives as distinct from any alleged contractual quid pro quo. Petro also recalled personal visits to venues where sex work occurred in his youth, saying he found the experience “dirty” and stopped such visits decades ago.
Official Response from DAPRE
He framed the alleged scheme as a misuse of public resources intended for governance.
Broader Political Context
The accusations emerge amid wider criticism of Petro’s tenure, including allegations of public-fund misuse and links to drug-trafficking networks. Petro characterized these attacks as politically motivated, naming Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and former U.S. President Donald Trump as figures seeking to portray him as corrupt.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are going to prove to the Colombian people how the Casa de Nariño was unfortunately set up, organized, and tailored for something completely different — not to govern, but to party there every single day, bring in women,” — Rios
- “I have never given out a contract in exchange for sexual relations. I would vomit on myself if I ever did such a thing,” — Gustavo Petro, former colombian president