The Colombian State Council has overturned eight further petitions against the removal of the Mayor of Bogota.
With a vote of 20 to 4, the High Chamber of the State Council has denied eight petitions against the dismissal of Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro by the attorney general in 2013.
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In December 2013, Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez removed Mayor Petro from his position in Colombia’s capital city due to “irregularities” uncovered by the inspector general. Petro was accused of fraud and “serious offenses” in his attempt to reform the city’s waste collection services.
The High Court is expected to reconvene and continue its study of the 15 remaining petitions. The petitions argue that the inspector general should not have the constitutional authority to investigate and take disciplinary action against a publicly elected official.