Govt to reform ‘protection’ for politicians

Colombia will amend the process for politicians to receive a writ for the protection of constitutional rights in response to the excessive use of them to avoid suspensions, W Radio reported Friday.

A writ of protection is used by politicians as a judicial document that protects a the from arrest or from being removed from office because it would violate the constitutional rights of thier voters.

The government will begin to regulate the writ of protection in the form of judicial reform, according to the Minister of the Interior, German Vargas Lleras.

The minister told W Radio that he believes a writ of protection should not supercede the authority of an official ranking in a higher position than the person who has applied for the writ. For example, if a judge has a writ of protection, a higher court can overrule the writ.

The announcement comes just after the now-former governer of Magdalena applied for a writ of protection before being removed from office for mismanaging funds.

The judicial reform is being discussed within the high courts and the prosecution, and is expected to be submitted to Congress before mid-year.

 

Related posts

Former top Petro aide jailed amid corruption probe

Former Medellin Cartel boss te return to Colombia on December 12

Colombia’s police raid 11 prisons in attempt to curb extortion