Nicolas Petro, the son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has been charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment. The charges were announced during a hearing on Tuesday, where prosecutors alleged that Petro had taken thousands of dollars from drug traffickers and used the money to purchase luxurious homes and expensive cars. Petro, who is 36 years old, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations have raised concerns about the financing of President Petro's 2022 presidential campaign, exposing the leftist leader to attacks from opposition parties who are becoming increasingly unwilling to cooperate with his legislative agenda.

The investigation into Nicolas Petro began after his ex-wife, Daysuris Vasquez, made a shocking declaration to local news magazine Semana in March. During the interview, Vasquez claimed that she was present at meetings where Petro arranged a 600 million peso (USD $150,000) donation from a politician convicted of drug trafficking in Washington. According to Vasquez, the politician wanted to contribute to Gustavo Petro's 2022 presidential campaign, but Nicolas Petro pocketed the money without the campaign's knowledge. Prosecutors in Tuesday's hearing accused Petro of using illicit funds to purchase a mansion in Barranquilla and a luxurious apartment, registering the properties under the names of relatives to avoid scrutiny from tax officials.

In addition to the charges against Petro, prosecutors also accused Vasquez of cooperating in the money laundering scheme, alleging that she helped Petro hide thousands of dollars in cash in suitcases kept at their home. The couple, who no longer live together, were arrested on Saturday night and are being held at the headquarters of the Chief Prosecutor's office in Bogot??. President Petro stated that he would not interfere with the investigation and expressed hope that his son would reflect on his mistakes.

This is not the first corruption scandal to hit President Petro. In June, his former ambassador to Venezuela claimed in voice messages that Petro's presidential campaign had exceeded finance limits and suggested that it may have received money from drug traffickers. Petro denied these charges and stated that all donations to his campaign were carefully scrutinized. These scandals have damaged Petro's popularity among Colombian voters, as they bring back memories of the violent 1990s when a former president was accused of accepting money from the Cali cartel.

Despite these controversies, President Petro has achieved some successes during his first year in office. He brokered a ceasefire with the country's largest rebel group and has been working towards implementing reforms to the health system, pensions, and labor laws. However, his legislative agenda has been hampered by opposition parties, and the recent scandals are likely to further weaken his position.

The arrest of Nicolas Petro and his ex-wife represents another blow to President Petro's government and his efforts to enact reforms. It is expected to give leverage to his opponents and make it even more challenging for him to push through his agenda. Political analysts suggest that these scandals damage the president's legitimacy and his fight against narco-trafficking influence in politics, as well as his battle against traditional political elites.