Head of Colombian legislative commission proposes suspension of president Petro

The president of Colombia's legislative Commission of Investigation and ​Accusation, Gloria Arizabaleta, has proposed suspending President ‌Gustavo Petro from his duties until June 21, according to a document published Wednesday, Report informs via Reuters.

Arizabaleta's motion is tied to ​a probe into Petro's alleged political meddling ​and cites actions described as "extremely serious or ⁠serious."

Petro, whose four-year term ends in August, has ​been accused of involvement in the presidential campaign ​of the leftist Ivan Cepeda, candidate for Petro's own Pacto Historico party. Cepeda will face right-wing lawyer Abelardo ​De La Espriella in a runoff vote on ​June 21.

The proposal must be debated and approved by all ‌16 ⁠members of the commission and subsequently by the Senate before it can take effect, according to lawmakers and legal experts.

"President Gustavo Petro has ​not been suspended; ​he remains ⁠in office," Miguel Silvera Padilla, a member of the commission, said ​in a video.

The Commission of Investigation and ​Accusation ⁠is part of the lower house of Congress and is tasked with evaluating complaints and criminal ⁠or ​disciplinary charges against high-ranking officials.