Former Bogota Mayor Quits Green Alliance Party Amidst Corruption Controversy

Claudia Lopez, former Bogota mayor, has joined party leader Antanas Mockus with her decision to quit the Green Alliance Party amidst the ongoing UNGRD (National Unit for Disaster Risk Management) corruption scandal, which involves two members of the party. 

Sneyder Pinilla, former deputy director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), revealed the names of key individuals involved in the alleged corruption concerning the purchase of forty water trucks to supply water to La Guajira. Pinilla named Ivan Name, the President of the Senate, and the recently-resigned Councilor for the Regions, Sandra Ortiz.

Claudia Lopez’s statement

In a statement made through her X account, Lopez declared that “Public resources are sacred”. She explained that this is the key principle behind her decision to leave the party. The former Bogota mayor has not only resolved to quit the party, but has also expressed her disapproval and criticism of those involved with corruption.

She added that, “The justice system will clarify the very serious acts of corruption according to the principles of the Rule of Law. But the severity of the sectarianism, corruption, and abuse of power revealed in recent events and scandals, make it impossible for me to remain in the party.”

Lopez also expressed her deep discomfort with where the party was headed, mainly related to how close some of its members had become to President Petro’s government. 

She introduced her statement by saying, “I arrived with the Green wave that inspired millions of citizens to enter public life and service, and I am leaving because the Green Party has ended up co-opted and controlled by a Petro-ist minority that does not represent or honor the values, practices, and principles that I have defended and practiced in my life.”

Another former Bogota mayor also quits

Lopez’s decision comes after another former Bogota mayor quit the party. Antanas Mockus, former director of the Green Alliance Party, recently quit the party for the same reasons Lopez has. The former mayor, former director, and former senator who joined the party in 2009 stated, “After analyzing the recent scandalous national events and the allegations of corruption that the media have reported in recent days, it is evident that many sectors in the Green Alliance have not upheld the principles that led to the formation of the group.”