Lawmakers of coalition party Cambio Radical threaten to leave the party if party president German Vargas Lleras does not give them money, Vargas Lleras confirmed Monday.
Vargas Lleras, confirmed that members of his party, led by disgraced former senator Ruben Dario Quintero, are demanding 250 million pesos to not leave the community.
“Senator Jorge Velez’s allegations are true; I regret that they were made public, and as we obviously told him, we will not meet his request or that of others concerning this issue,” said Lleras to W Radio, regarding the blackmail that Cambio Radical is being subjected to by some party members who are threatening to leave.
The presidential precandidate said that Colombia’s government is playing dirty to ensure the reelection of President Alvaro Uribe. He also said that there have been people interested in joining up with Cambio Radical, but that they have not been allowed entry.
“The government is playing very hard and very dirty. Luis Carlos Restrepo and several ministers have [exploited this issue].”
Senator Lleras said that he hopes that the legal proceedings regarding the referendum are resolved soon so that things become less complicated. He made clear that his candidature does not depend on the permanence of congressmen in the party.