Colombia’s first lady, Verónica Alcocer, and her finances are at the center of public debate. The Swedish newspaper squeeze revealed this weekend that Gustavo Petro’s wife has been living in Stockholm since October. In the same period it was sanctioned by the United States, which included it together with the president in the so-called Clinton List. In Sweden Alcocer lives in luxury, he says squeeze: Hangs out with millionaire businessmen and Swedish showbiz people, frequents expensive restaurants, and lives in a central apartment in one of the most expensive cities in Europe. The Colombian press wonders this Monday whether Alcocer’s lavish life is supported by public money. Petro ruled out this question.
“I see the far right envious of Verónica, the mother of my daughters. She makes defamatory conjectures as always, they have already done so much damage to her, enormous damage, and she is not like me. She is a free woman, she does not spend a single peso of the (public) treasury,” the president observed in person, she is free.
The article by squeezeone of the most read tabloids in Sweden, specifies that Alcocer “leads an exclusive life” in that country. The publication states that he frequents Noppes, a private club also frequented by members of the royal family; eat in the restaurants of Stockholm’s exclusive Stureplan area; and shares, as several photos demonstrate, with millionaire entrepreneurs. In his inner circle are Kristofer Rucson, owner of the Swedish champagne brand Hatt et Söner, or Olof Larsson, owner of Nymans Ur, a luxury watch shop. Alcocer had previously visited the Nordic country in June 2024, when he traveled with the president and met King Carl Gustaf of Sweden.
In late October, regarding the sanctions imposed by the US Department of the Treasury against him, the president revealed that, although his marriage to Alcocer is still legally valid, their relationship ended “years ago”. Petro argued that it does not receive taxpayer money in any case. The president’s revelation of the separation raised big questions about the role Alcocer continued to play as first lady, since, until this year, she continued to travel as an official representative of Colombia, such as when she led the delegation that went to Pope Francis’ funeral last April.
The wives of Colombia’s presidents are not public employees nor do they receive a salary for their duties as first ladies, who typically attend events or lead social welfare or charitable initiatives. Nonetheless, they employ several people, whose salaries are paid from public coffers. An investigation of The empty chair It was revealed in early 2024 that the Alcocer delegation’s fees had cost the state, in a year and a half, more than 1,000 million pesos (about $270,000). This money was used, among other expenses, to pay the salaries of a professional photographer, a makeup artist, a costume designer and a personal consultant.
With the new Swedish media publication, many are now wondering how Alcocer can live a life of luxury if he does not receive a salary or travel expenses, since his residence in Stockholm does not consist of an official visit. The first lady has not commented on the matter.
Doubts about the purchase of Gripen aircraft
At the same time, several opposition figures have claimed, without evidence, that the first lady’s stay is somehow linked to Colombia’s purchase of 17 Gripen-type fighter planes from Sweden, an operation valued at 3.15 million euros (about 13.6 billion pesos).
Colombia and Sweden made the acquisition official on Friday, which was celebrated by both governments. Petro stressed that the planes, developed by the Saab company, are “deterrent weapons to achieve peace.” For his part, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed the “Gripen family” to the country, which is “one of the best systems in the world”.
Far-right candidate Vicky Dávila warned: “squeeze revealed that Petro’s “ex” lives like a millionaire. With what money? Let’s not forget that the country just concluded a billion-dollar deal with Colombia. What will it be?” Meanwhile, many others are wondering whether it is a “coincidence” that the deal, which has been rumored for months, became official just when the first lady lives in Sweden.
The president rejected that the acquisition would entail additional costs than expected. “With great ignorance, opposition journalists claim that the Gripen planes, purchased by my government, have exceeded costs. They have not even read the contract. They have forgotten that these are new planes with maintenance, spare parts and technology transfer included (…). I want to teach people that these big deals with public money can be done by states without corruption. Sweden is an example of transparency and I want Colombia to be so,” he indicated.
