President Alvaro Uribe proposes that the power to elect Colombia’s prosecutor general be transfered from the Supreme Court to the head of state.
“I think that one of the reforms that the justice system lacks is that there is not a total separation between the prosecutor general who prosecutes, and the judges and magistrates who prosecute. I think that one of the reforms that Colombia needs is that the president of the republic names the prosecutor,” Uribe said.
“I carried out my duty to select the candidates, but all the powers need to carry out their duties,” Uribe added.
Colombia’s Supreme Court Friday failed to elect a new national prosecutor general for the twelfth time in a year, because they could not reach a consensus on which candidate should fill the position. Previously Uribe has expressed concern that the ongoing delays in electing the new prosecutor general threaten the country’s democratic institutions and the rule of law.
The executive has clashed with the legislative throughout Uribe’s tenure.
Colombia’s Vice Justice Minister Miguel Ceballos confirmed that the nation’s Congress will hold extra session between July 12 and 17 in order to examine legislation proposed by the outgoing executive.
Among the proposed legislation is the bill that seeks to give the president the power to choose Colombia’s prosecutor general.
Senate President Javier Caceres said on Wednesday that the legislative body would not work past July 17, when congressional sessions are scheduled to close.