A decree passed by the Colombian Senate on Wednesday states that lawmakers who were absent from obligatory congressional sessions in 2009 must repay a portion of the salary they earned.
The decree orders both senators and congress members to pay back a percentage of their salary if they cannot provide a valid excuse for their absences.
Directors of Senate have identified 20 lawmakers to whom the new decree applies, and each will be required to pay back COP471,171 of the COP701,520 that they received for a day’s work.
Among those identified are Senator Piedad Cordoba, Senator Jairo Clopatofsky, Senator Elsa Gladys Cifuentes and Senator Luis Elmer Arenas.