Colombia’s political scene has been rocked by explosive allegations from former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva, who has accused President Gustavo Petro of drug addiction — claims the president has strongly denied.

In a public letter released this week, 82-year-old Leyva, once a close ally of the president, claimed that Petro disappeared for two days during an official visit to Paris in 2023.

“It was in Paris that I confirmed you have a drug addiction problem,” Leyva wrote. “These were embarrassing moments for me, both personally and as foreign minister,” he added, though he provided no concrete evidence to support the accusation.

President Petro swiftly responded via social media, calling the allegations “slanderous.” He emphasized that, as a visiting head of state, his movements in Paris were closely monitored by the French secret service. Petro explained that he had spent the time in question with his daughter and grandchildren, who reside in the city. “I am addicted to love,” he added.

Opposition figures quickly seized on the opportunity to question Petro’s fitness for office. Several lawmakers demanded that the president undergo drug and psychological testing, citing Leyva’s claims as justification.

Critics have long accused Petro of erratic behavior, pointing to incidents such as his late appearances and a widely publicized moment in which he appeared intoxicated during a campaign event — an episode for which he later apologized. The president has consistently denied any history of drug use.

Petro has also drawn attention for his liberal stance on narcotics, including advocating for drug decriminalization and minimizing the dangers of cocaine use. “Whiskey kills more,” he once remarked in defense of his position.

Leyva, a veteran politician with deep ties to Colombia’s conservative establishment, had played a significant role in Petro’s administration as a peace negotiator and senior official.

However, their relationship began to deteriorate after Leyva was suspended in early 2024 over alleged irregularities in a government passport contract. At the time, Petro came to Leyva’s defense, denouncing the suspension as politically motivated.

Since then, Leyva has alluded to Petro’s alleged substance use on several occasions, but his latest letter marks the most direct and public accusation to date. Petro dismissed the claims, suggesting they were both unfounded and unimportant in comparison to his personal life. “Aren’t the parks, museums, and bookstores of Paris more interesting than the letter’s author?” Petro wrote. “Don’t I have daughters and granddaughters in Paris who are far more meaningful than this?”

The controversy comes amid mounting scrutiny over Colombia’s drug policy. Under Petro’s leadership, the country’s cocaine production has reached record highs, while efforts to eradicate coca crops have declined. In response to growing criticism, the president recently reaffirmed that his only true addiction is to “coffee,” Colombia’s iconic export.