Because of electoral fraud in the 2006 Senate elections, Colombia’s
State Council ruled that there needs to be a recount of 34,000 votes. Several lawmakers may lose their seat
after the recount, local media reported Tuesday.
Former Inspector General Edgardo Jose Maya Villazon had denounced the irregularities in a number of polling stations. The State Council established there had been fraud in several regions like the Atlantic coast, Santander, Chocó and Valle del Cauca.
According to newspaper El Tiempo, the former IG had denounced that right wing paramilitary groups had intervened in a correct vote.
The President of the Electoral Council, Rafael Ostau de Lafont, confirmed to Spanish press agency Efe that 34,000 votes needed to be recounted.
One of the Senators whose election definitely was annulled is Martha Lucia Ramirez, former Finance Minister, who resigned from the Senate to run for the 2010 Presidency. She was still working for the State six months before the election, which according to Colombian electoral law, is not allowed.