of the Colombia Humana Party, Gustavo Petro. Quintero was elected Mayor of Medellin in October 2019 while running under the banner of the political movement Independientes (Independents). He won office with a record number of votes and at the age of 39 became the youngest ever mayor of Medellín. Suspension as mayor Quintero posted a video on Twitter on 10 May 2022 and stated "change in the first", allegedly referencing a possible first-round victory of opposition Historic Pact presidential nominee Gustavo Petro. Inspector general Margarita Cabello Blanco suspended Quintero as mayor several hours later for three months for allegedly attempting to interfere with the 2022 presidential election. Colombian law does not permit public officials the right to participate in electoral politics. Quintero responded by criticising the event as a "dictatorial act." His suspension was denounced as unconstitutional by opposition politicians and members of the Medellín government, with legal experts asserting Cabello's actions may violate the law. The Inter-American Human Rights court does not permit the hiatus of elected officeholders by the inspector-general without a criminal court order. President Iván Duque appointed a political supporter of his, Juan Camilo Restrepo, to serve as mayor in the interim, in defiance of the constitution, which prohibits the appointment of political allies of the head of state to mayoral offices. Opposition politicians condemned Restrepo's appointment as "illegitimate." Opponents of the decision also have implied hypocrisy in the Duque Administration, as commander of the National Army of Colombia General Eduardo Zapateiro, who was under investigation by the office of the inspector general at the time for publicly expressing his disapproval of Gustavo Petro, had not been suspended from his position. Cabello lifted Quintero's suspension, permitting him to resume his duties on 21 June, following the conclusion of the second round of the presidential election. Notes References |- 1980 births Living people 21st-century engineers Boston University School of Management alumni Colombian engineers Colombian politicians Harvard Kennedy School alumni Mayors of Medellín University of Antioquia alumni