Colombia's Petro denies seeking asylum during Mexico visit
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro denied on Wednesday that he had travelled to Mexico to seek asylum, using a keynote lecture at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to dismiss the claim.
"The Colombian press has made people believe that I was coming here to seek asylum," Petro said. "I haven't stolen a single peso, I haven't committed any crime, and my crime is to be a rebel."
Petro delivered the lecture, titled Capital in the 21st Century: Political economy of the climate crisis, at UNAM's Alfonso Caso Auditorium.
He also criticised Argentine President Javier Milei's prominence at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying he stopped attending the event after Milei was presented as a "hero."
"That day I stopped going to Davos and obviously they will never invite me again," Petro said.
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The Mexico trip was Petro's first international visit since leaving office on August 7. Under Colombia's Constitution, former presidents require Senate authorisation to travel abroad during the year after leaving office, and Petro obtained permission before the trip.
During his stay, Petro met Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace and also agreed with writer Paco Ignacio Taibo II on the publication of his next book for the Spanish-speaking world.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
