Colombian President Petro Faces scrutiny Over spending,Including Strip Club Visit
BOGOTÁ,Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro is facing a mounting scandal following the release of credit card statements revealing expenditures at luxury retailers and a Lisbon strip club during a period officially designated as a working trip to Spain. the disclosures, first reported by the Times, have ignited criticism from political opponents and raised questions about the president’s public image as an advocate against consumerism.
The documents show Petro spent 1,250 euros at a Gucci store in Portugal in 2023, alongside purchases from Casa dei Tessuti, Ralph Lauren, Apple, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Most notably, a 40-euro charge at “MÉNAGE STRIP CLUB” in Lisbon on the same day as the Gucci purchase has drawn intense scrutiny, particularly as Petro’s official itinerary indicated he was in Spain at the time.
Petro addressed the strip club expenditure on X (formerly Twitter), offering a cryptic response: “one day I will explain why I spent 40 euros there.” He further asserted, “I still have the talent of seduction and poetry,” and stated he does not require a “paid relationship.”
The controversy arrives amid separate allegations leveled against Petro’s wife, First Lady Veronica Alcocer, and son Nicolas, who were recently placed on a U.S. sanctions list accused of aiding drug trafficking – allegations they deny. Reports surfaced during the same period that Alcocer was enjoying a “luxurious life” in Stockholm, Sweden, despite claimed difficulties returning to Colombia due to the sanctions.
Despite the backlash, Petro has doubled down on a commitment to openness, announcing his intention to publish all contract details related to the purchase of fighter jets. He framed his response to the accusations as a continuation of this emphasis on openness.
