COThe Colombian Council of State has confirmed the nullification of President Gustavo Petro's decree appointing first lady Verónica Alcocer as an ambassador in special mission to the Vatican. The decision was based on a ruling by the Cundinamarca Court in April 2024, which declared the decree unconstitutional under Article 126 of the Constitution, prohibiting the president from naming spouses or permanent partners to public office. The court ruled that the appointment violated constitutional principles of legality and transparency, citing ambiguous language in the decree that allowed broad discretion over Alcocer’s activities abroad. Legal experts argue that the decree undermined institutional integrity by granting the first lady authority beyond her role as a spouse. The case gained prominence after *Semana* revealed the decree in late 2023, sparking public debate over executive power and gender dynamics in politics.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the legal arguments from both sides—constitutional violations by the administration versus the executive's claim of constitutional authority. It cites multiple legal entities (Council of State, Cundinamarca Court, Procuraduría) without overtly favoring any.
