Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted the phrase “Heil Hitler” on X in response to a social-media post promoting a pro–Abelardo de la Espriella opinion column by Felipe Zuleta Lleras, triggering backlash less than two weeks before Colombia’s June 21 presidential runoff.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted the phrase “Heil Hitler” on X on June 7 in a reply to a post promoting an opinion column by Colombian commentator Felipe Zuleta Lleras that endorsed conservative presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella. (dailywire.com) The column, published by El Espectador and circulated on social media, argued in favor of De la Espriella’s platform, including a tougher security approach and a smaller state. (beincrypto.com) The exchange unfolded during a polarized campaign ahead of Colombia’s June 21 runoff election between De la Espriella and left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda, an ally of Petro. Multiple outlets reported De la Espriella leading the first round with about 43.7% of the vote, with Cepeda second at roughly 41%, after elections held on May 31. (apnews.com) De la Espriella has publicly styled himself as a law-and-order candidate and has aligned himself with policies associated with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to news reports describing his campaign messaging and positioning. (apnews.com) Petro’s post drew renewed scrutiny because of his past use of Nazi-era references in political arguments, including comments made after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that drew criticism from Israeli officials and some U.S. politicians and commentators. Petro has said in past disputes that his remarks are aimed at the policies of Israel’s government rather than Jewish people. (dailywire.com) As of June 8, Petro had not publicly offered a detailed explanation for the “Heil Hitler” reply, and reports differed on whether the post remained visible on his account at the time readers searched for it. (dailywire.com)
