The former Colombian president Gustavo Petro has submitted a formal request to the Senate to be allowed to remain outside of Colombia for a period of one year, with the aim of fulfilling various commitments "of a personal, social, political, and academic nature."
In the letter, dated this Monday, the former president states: "I am addressing you to respectfully request the prior authorization of the Plenary of the Senate of the Republic to leave the national territory," according to the document itself.
To support his request, Petro invokes "Article 196 of the Constitution," relying on this provision to request a permit "with a validity of one year to attend commitments outside the country of a personal, social, political, and academic nature during the entire year following the exercise of (his) functions as president of the Republic."