Colombia’s Supreme Court expanded its investigation into the approvalof the referendum needed to re-elect President Alvaro Uribe. It isinquiring about both Representatives and Senators.
The Court already had announced it was preliminary investigating 86 Representatives of the House after an opposition lawmaker filed a complaint claiming his colleagues had approved the referendum while it was still being investigating for possible financial fraud.
But a commission of the Court Tuesday arrived at Congress demanding information regarding those who voted in favor for the bill in both House and Senate, meaning it has broadened the investigation and now Senators run the risk of being officially charged with fraud.
The preliminary investigation into Representatives already caused the members of the House to fear for their seat. If the Court decides to charge the Representatives they will have to be suspended. The same goes for Senators.
The House and Senate are obliged to collaborate with the Court.
The referendum is controversial, because it seeks a constitutional change to allow Uribe a third term. the organization of a previously held referendum is accused of having committed fraud to finance the project and the coalition Congressmen are accused of having passed the law while knowing it lacked the approval of the Registry and the Electoral Council. The text of the referendum was also changed after it was held.
Without a referendum demanding the constitutional change, Uribe is not allowed to serve a third term.