Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has sent the shortlist of Bogota’s replacement mayoral candidates to the Council of State to review the eligibility of Mariela Barragan, El Espectador reported Thursday.
The Polo Democratico party presented the president with three possible candidates to replace the suspended Mayor Samuel Moreno on May 10, although Santos subsequently announced that Mariela Barragan was unfit due to her current position as development secretary in the capital’s battered government.
After objections from the Polo Democratico party, Santos has now opted to refer the issue to the Council of State, which will judge whether she is eligible to be on the shortlist.
“In cases when there is a legal dispute, it is usual to turn to any authority that can resolve the dispute for us,” explained the head of state.
“If the Council of State determines that the concept that the Polo Democratico has is correct, I will proceed to interview the three candidates in the list and choose one of them. But if it is determined that the concept of the Presidency’s Legal Secretariat is correct, then we will proceed to return the shortlist,” said Santos.
The Colombian head of state highlighted the work of interim Mayor Maria Fernanda Campo and requested the patience from the people of Bogota until the appointment of a new mayor is completed.
The two other candidates are Tarcisio Mora, president of the workers union (CUT), Jaime Moreno, an ex-magistrate of the Council of State and current member of the party’s ethics committee.