An opinion piece in La Nación highlights recent denunciations on Noticias Caracol about alleged links between members of the National Intelligence Directorate and illegal groups in Gustavo Petro's government. These revelations echo past political corruption scandals in Colombia. The text questions whether the country is doomed to be governed by allies of criminals.
The article 'Entre bandidos…', published in La Nación on December 1, 2025, reflects on the persistence of ties between political power and organized crime in Colombia. The author recalls the shameful past when paramilitaries, known as paracos, were received as heroes in Congress, boasting control over 35% of its members. In that era, a president urged congressmen to vote for his projects before being arrested, leading to the dissolution of the intelligence agency and convictions of its directors for murders and illegal wiretaps on the Supreme Court of Justice.
However, the text claims these episodes are not just history. According to recent denunciations on Noticias Caracol, in the current government of Gustavo Petro—who was the main critic of those past events—there are members of the National Intelligence Directorate serving illegal groups. These accusations date back to Petro's electoral campaign, marked by the 'Pacto de la Picota', which allegedly involved support from criminal groups.
The author questions whether criminals infiltrated politicians or if the latter used delinquents to gain power, citing the case of a politician and narcotrafficker who stated it was more profitable to control a mayor's contracting than a cocaine shipment. Additionally, it notes that one of the poll leaders for president is a confessed defender of narcotraffickers. The article criticizes the apparent Colombian resignation to this image of corruption, reflected in votes for candidates with such links, despite complaints about being treated abroad as 'rogues'.