The governor of the northern Colombian department of Magdalena was dismissed Monday over the mismanagement of government funds.
The national government’s appealed against the decision of a local court to declare illegal the initial dismissal of Governor Omar Diaz–Granados. This appeal was granted by the Comptroller General’s Office, and the dismissal was upheld.
Diaz–Granados must leave his post immediately, to be replaced by General Manuel Jose Bonnet, who was appointed temporary substitute for the disgraced governor.
According to local newspaper El Universal, the decision of the country’s financial watchdog comes as a “cold shower” as many of the governor’s political allies in the department were counting on victory.