### Sheinbaum’s Guerrilla Past Revealed by Colombian President Petro
Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, the President of Colombia since August 7, 2022, made a startling revelation on September 30, 2024. He disclosed that Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the current President of Mexico, was once a militant and collaborator with the Colombian urban guerrilla group, the 19th of April Movement, known as M-19.
The announcement was made during a press brief before a climate change conference organized by the University Program on Democracy, Justice, and Society Studies (PUEDJS) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Petro, himself a former guerrilla from the M-19, explained that with Sheinbaum and him as presidents, the M-19 now had two individuals who once participated in its activities occupying the highest political offices.
After the conference, held at the historic Mining Palace in Mexico City, Petro stated that Sheinbaum had been a “collaborator and militant” of the M-19. This guerrilla group was formed following irregularities in the Colombian presidential elections on April 19, 1970, which declared Misael Pastrana Borrero of the National Front as the winner over the opposition candidate Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. Allegations of electoral fraud orchestrated by the Colombian government led to M-19’s participation in the internal armed conflict in Colombia from January 1974 until its demobilization in March 1990 following a peace agreement with President Virgilio Barco Vargas’s administration. By 1990, the M-19 had transitioned into a legal political party.
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### Secondary Article: Sheinbaum Denies Allegations of M-19 Involvement
Following President Gustavo Petro’s claims, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has responded to the allegations with a firm denial. In a statement released on October 1, 2024, the Mexican President categorically refuted any involvement with the M-19 guerrilla group.
Sheinbaum called Petro’s claims “unfounded and baseless,” emphasizing that she has never been involved with any guerrilla movements, Colombian or otherwise. She further expressed disappointment that such allegations were made without any evidence.
Political analysts suggest that the timing of Petro’s revelation may be connected to recent strains in Colombia-Mexico diplomatic relations, although both governments have yet to comment on this speculation.
This controversy has sparked widespread debate on social media, with citizens from both countries expressing mixed reactions. Whether these allegations will have any lasting impact on either leader’s standing remains to be seen.
For more updates on this developing story and other international news, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.