Colombia’s Vice President Angelino Garzon, who was scheduled to undergo medical examinations Thursday to determine his capabilities in his government position, claimed the examinations would be considered a “coup against President Santos.”
The medical committee meant to examine Vice President Garzon wrote a letter to the President of Congress, Roy Barreras, stating that Garzon objected medical analysis for legal and constitutional purposes, according to Caracol Radio. The Medical Board added that Garzon dismissed them with “respect and on the best of terms.”
“If I were to get a medical evaluation, I would be committing a blow to the democracy against the president, and my duty is to defend with my life the president Juan Manuel Santos,” said Garzon adding, “there weren’t detailed medical exams, because if I do them, it would be questioning that the president Santos isn’t exercising his power.”
In June, Garzon suffered a near death stroke, leaving the vice president in a coma after the episode. Although Garzon has slowly improved since then, congress members have been questioning his ability to fulfill his official government role.