Coalition party Cambio Radical announced on Wednesday that it will not support
the 2010 re-election of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe when a joint
commission of the Senate and the House of Representatives votes on the
referendum needed for a re-election.
The party notified the Presidency of its decision to vote against the initiative that has already been severely criticized and delayed in Congress.
Cambio Radical leader German Vargas Lleras wants to run for the 2010 Presidency himself and his party will only support the referendum if it allows a re-election of the President in 2014, not in 2010.
Earlier on Wednesday, Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio, responsible for guiding the referendum through Congress, announced he had a majority in the Congressional commission for the referendum to be approved. This was denied by the Conservative Party, which said that the Minister still lacked four of the 26 necessary votes.
The commission is expected to cast its vote on the referendum next Wednesday. If the bill is approved, it will be sent to the Constitutional Court to be tested for its constitutionality.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Tuesday allegedly confirmed his aspiration for the May 2010 election, but this was later denied by Partido de la U president Luis Carlos Restrepo.