The Colombian Ambassador to Sweden has publicly denied allegations from President Gustavo Petro regarding a paid smear campaign against First Lady Verónica Alcocer. According to local media reports, the ambassador claimed Alcocer “discredited herself” during her residence in Stockholm and is now calling for the president to rectify his statements.
Why is the Ambassador demanding a rectification?
The Colombian Ambassador to Sweden has formally challenged the narrative presented by the presidency. According to public statements, the diplomat rejected the notion that a coordinated, paid effort was used to damage the First Lady’s reputation. Instead, the ambassador asserted that any loss of prestige was a result of Alcocer’s own actions while living in the Swedish capital.
Verónica Alcocer “sola se desprestigió” cuando vivió en Estocolmo.
Colombian Ambassador to Sweden
The ambassador stated he will request that Gustavo Petro issue a correction regarding the claims of an organized campaign. This demand follows a series of public tensions involving the First Lady’s image and her time spent abroad.
What are the claims regarding the smear campaign?
President Gustavo Petro has maintained that a specific group funded a campaign to undermine the First Lady. According to local media reports, the president claimed to know the identity of those who financed the effort, specifically questioning the source of the funds used to orchestrate the attacks.
The dispute centers on a fundamental contradiction in the accounts provided by the two officials. While the president points to external financial backing as the driver of the controversy, the ambassador attributes the First Lady’s reputation issues to her personal conduct in Sweden.
How has the dispute affected the diplomatic relationship?
The friction between the head of state and his diplomatic representative has escalated into a personal grievance. According to reports, the ambassador expressed “sadness, anger, and pain” over the accusations made by the president. This emotional response highlights a significant rift between the administration’s public narrative and the observations of its own staff on the ground in Europe.
The conflict now rests on whether President Petro will acknowledge the ambassador’s request for a rectification or maintain his position regarding the financed campaign against Alcocer.
