Former Colombian foreign minister Álvaro Leyva has ignited a political storm with a public letter accusing President Gustavo Petro of disappearing for two days during an official visit to Paris in 2023, alleging the absence was due to drug use.
Leyva, 82, stated in the letter that while in Paris, he became convinced that President Petro struggles with drug addiction. “It was in Paris that I was able to confirm that you have a drug addiction problem,” Leyva wrote, calling the incident “embarrassing” both personally and professionally. He offered no specific evidence or further details to support his claims.
President Petro swiftly refuted the allegations on social media platform X, denouncing the statement as defamatory. “I’ve simply been slandered,” Petro wrote. He explained that during the Paris trip, he was accompanied at all times by the French secret service, as is protocol for a visiting head of state. Petro said he spent those two days with his daughter and grandchildren, who reside in Paris, and emphasized his only “addiction” was “to love.”
Opposition lawmakers seized on the controversy, calling for the president to undergo both drug and psychiatric evaluations to assess his capacity to govern.
Despite Leyva’s conservative political roots, he had previously been considered an ally of the left-leaning president. A seasoned diplomat and peace negotiator, Leyva has served under various Colombian administrations and has made two unsuccessful presidential bids of his own. Tensions emerged in early 2024 when Leyva was suspended by Colombia’s inspector general over alleged mishandling of a passport printing contract—a move that Petro opposed and characterized as politically driven. Since then, Leyva has increasingly suggested Petro may have substance abuse issues.
Petro has long rejected such accusations, and on Wednesday, he reiterated his dismissal with a tone of sarcasm. In a series of posts, he downplayed the former minister’s claims, writing: “Isn’t Paris full of parks, museums, bookstores more interesting than the letter’s writer, to spend two days in? Almost everything in Paris is more interesting.”
“Don’t I have daughters and granddaughters in Paris who are far more interesting than the writer?” he added.
Petro’s history with drugs and public perception has been a controversial element throughout his political career. He has previously shown up late to events, with critics linking his tardiness to alleged substance use. In one instance as a presidential candidate, Petro apologized for appearing intoxicated at a public function. Additionally, he has made controversial statements minimizing the dangers of cocaine compared to alcohol, arguing that whiskey causes more harm and supporting drug legalization measures.
During his presidency, Colombia’s cocaine output has reached unprecedented levels, while enforcement efforts have declined. Despite these developments, Petro has continued to assert his sobriety, recently quipping that his only real addiction is to coffee—a nod to one of Colombia’s most iconic exports.
