Colombian House agrees on “empty chair” solution to fight parapolitics

The Colombian government had put the political reform up for a vote in the House after 29 senators were jailed, awaiting trial for parapolitics. 22 others are still under investigation.Partido de La U, Partido Liberal, Partido Conservador and Cambio Radical, together the majority in the House agreed on the reforms.Pólo Democratico, the largest opposition party and also the only party who does not have senators suspected of parapolitics, disagrees with the solution. “The current legislative chambers lack credibility to address issues of a real political reform of this size,” said a statement issued by the party.The Colombian Senate, hardest hit by the scandal, also will have to agree with the reform.