Supporters of a second re-election of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
clashed with House President German Varon, who they want to disqualify
from appointing Representatives to the commission that will vote on the
re-election referendum.
Colombia’s Senate approved the bill Tuesday, but because the text of the referendum was altered by the Senate, both House and Senate will have to form commissions to jointly approve the change. Without the change, the President can only be re-elected again after 2014.
Varon (Conservative Party) is an opponent of the re-election and the Uribistas — fronted by Partido de la U President Luis Carlos Restrepo — don’t want him involved in the appointing of Representatives, fearing the House President could form a commission that would vote against the change.
The House’s Ethics Committee (consisting primarily of supporters of Uribe) will now decide whether Varon will be disqualified or not.