Colombia's Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio said Thursday the vote on the referendum needed to re-elect President Alvaro Uribe can be moved to after the parliamentary holiday. So far, the deadline was thought to be this Saturday.
Political supporters of the bill were openly concerned that the referendum would not make the deadline, because of delays in the congressional process and a Supreme Court investigation into coalition members, who allegedly illegally approved the bill.
But in an interview with the website of newspaper El Espectador, Valencia Cossio says there is no problem lifting the vote to after the end of recess on July 20. "It can be reconciled because it is an Ordinary Law which would oppose no problem," the Minister said.
A delay would have no effect on the date for the presidential elections that are set to be held in May 2010.
The Minister reiterated that Uribe still has not decided on whether he aspires a third term.
