Colombia Says Priest at Five Public Universities Isn’t the President’s Cousin
The Colombian Presidency on Friday moved to deny one of the main pieces of information surrounding the appointment of priest Rodolfo Londoño de la Espriella — the official priest at the Casa de Nariño — as the government’s delegate to the governing boards of five public universities. A statement released Friday morning denied that the […]
Colombian authorities have officially denied claims that priest Rodolfo Londoño de la Espriella, appointed as the government's delegate to five public universities, is the president's cousin. The President's Office released a statement on Friday, clarifying that "Rodolfo Londoño de la Espriella has no family ties or relationship" with President Abelardo de la Espriella.
The controversy initially arose after digital outlet La Silla Vaca reported on Thursday that the priest is related to the president, based on information shared by his brother Junio Londoño on social media, who referred to the president as his "cousin." The shared surname led to the mistaken belief of a family connection, although the government maintains that this is not the case.
The clarification comes 24 hours after the appointment sparked political debates over the priest's closeness to the president and his potential conflicts of interest in serving as a representative at the universities.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
