Colombia’s Supreme Court dismisses an appeal to restore Piedad Cordoba to her former post in the Senate, El Espectador reported Wednesday.
Former Senator Piedad Cordoba is barred from holding public office for 18 years after the Supreme Court upheld Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez’s decision to dismiss her for allegedly inappropriate links with the FARC.
The plaintiffs arguing on Cordoba’s behalf were those who voted of the controversial politician. The group initially issued a writ of protection before the Superior Court of Bogota last November, arguing that her dismissal violated their fundamental right to political participation and that removing her before the end of her elected term is unconstitutional.
Cordoba’s latest setback, after the Superior Court of Bogota had previously upheld her dismissal, means that she must now await the results of an appeal to the State Council, one of the four highest judicial bodies in Colombia.
Responding to the development via twitter, the Liberal Party politician stated that “they rejected the writ of protection for having no legal grounds, [but] they never rejected the return [itself].”
The news comes while the former senator is in the media spotlight for her high profile role in the release of five FARC hostages.