Opposition party Polo Democratico on Monday called on independent presidential candidates to join forces to prevent a referendum on a constitutional change that would allow President Alvaro Uribe to run for a third term.
Senator Jaime Dussan, chairman of the social democratic party Polo, wants presidential candidates Noemi Sanin, Sergio Fajardo and German Vargas Lleras to join the opposition and call on their supporters to boycott the referendum.
Supporters of Uribe have been organizing the popular vote to change the constitution to allow the president to run for a third term in office, something prohibited by the constitution as it now stands.
Polo now wants conservative candidates like Sanin and Vargas to join the left-wing parties in their opposition to the referendum, which they consider illegal because of irregularities in the process leading up to the approval of the referendum bill in Congress.
"We want to see how courageous German Varags Lleras and Noemi Sanin are," Dussan told television station Caracol.
Uribe's re-election bid depends on the ruling of the Constitutional Court, which is currently studying the bill, on whether there is enough time to organize the referendum and push through a constitutional change before the May elections, and on the turnout and result of the referendum.
James
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... I don't think Uribe should attempt to run for a third term. Power does corrupt and Uribe has made a lasting postive impact on Colombia but a third term could erase all this. Seeking re-election could almost put him in the same boat as Chavez in their need for power. Would be better for him to step aside and let someone else from within his party to run and Uribe support this person, then apply for a cabinet position. |
Think Clearly Think Logically
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... Obvious; the Polo knows they do NOT have anything to offer voters so they have to remove the opposition which does. That is NOT an alternative but an attempt to limit the public's choice. Chavez is a master of those tactics, and look at how Venezuela is doing. |
Andrewmann552
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... Who knows if Uribe will get his reelection. We're already near February, when will the court issue its decision? Unless Uribe's people know something we don't and are secretly already preparing what's needed for a referendum vote. Anything is possible. |
gringomedellim
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... My understanding is the Court has until mid Febuary to make a ruling. Uribe people claim that is enough time to hold a vote bfore the General Election, but what it does is put other candidates on hol d not knowing if he can and will run, for this reason alone he should step aside as not to limit the people a choice between those that want in. |
Andrewmann552
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... Think Clearly, can you seriously compare the Polo to Chavez? Like him or not, Chavez and his party are a powerful force in Venezuela with a mass following, the Polo is not a threat to Uribe at all, especially in the kind of militarized atmosphere Colombia is living through. Isn't Uribe the one who would be limiting choice by running again? |
