Colombian Congress will not undertake extra sessions in order to pass pending legislation prior to the turnover to the new government, as Colombian President Alvaro Uribe requested, Senate President Javier Caceres announced on Wednesday.
After meetings between Caceres, the Interior Minister Fabio Valecia Cossio and President Alvaro Uribe, the decision was made to end congressional sessions on June 17 as previously planned, and not to add overtime to the activity of the legislative body.
“At the moment, there are no projects that depend on debate in order to be approved. What we are going to do is work all day today until Thursday and if we have to go on to sunrise the next day, we will also do that,” said the Senate president.
President Uribe on Tuesday expressed his frustration with Congress for not accomplishing enough during 2010 and asked for extra sessions to be added. A number of initiatives are awaiting discussion by Congress, including the prohibition of the minimum dose, elimination of security agency DAS and tax reform in the health sector.