Colombia’s unprecedented police purge causes controversy
Gustavo Petro
Francia Marquez
Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’
How to end the war in western Colombia?
Colombia’s government talks peace with ELN in Cuba
Colombia and Venezuela reestablish diplomatic ties
How to keep Venezuela’s diaspora in Colombia safe?
Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance...
Peace talks with Colombia’s ELN guerrillas ‘about to...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
Alvaro Uribe (R) and Ivan Duque (Image: Democratic Center)
News

‘I am the president of Colombia’: Uribe

by Adriaan Alsema August 14, 2019

Former president Alvaro Uribe said Tuesday that he is “the president of Colombia and senator.”

The political patron of President Ivan Duque made the controversial claim in an interview with Blu Radio, which is run by the president’s brother in law.

Uribe’s claim adds to ongoing doubts about the effective authority of Duque, who critics have called “Uribe’s puppet” since before he became president in August last year.

During the campaign, Duque referred to his political patron as Colombia’s “eternal president.”

After taking office, Duque has mockingly been called “underpresident” by critics.

Uribe is the boss of Duque’s Democratic Center party and was accidentally called president by Vice-President Marta Lucia Ramirez in November.

The president came under severe criticism in December when Uribe published a draft presidential decree to loosen a gun ban on his Twitter account before it had effectively been issued by Duque.


Colombia loosens gun control amid wave of criticism


Uribe made his presidential claim after the Supreme Court reiterated that the high court is investigating him for his alleged tampering of witnesses who have testified he formed a death squad in the 1990s when he was governor of the Antioquia province.

The investigation is only one of at least two dozen criminal investigations against Uribe over alleged crimes committed when he was governor and senator.

The investigations include his allegedly illegal role in the formation of paramilitary organization AUC, which was later designated a foreign terrorist group by the United States, two massacres and the killing of three human rights defenders.

Congress is supposedly investigating crimes committed as president, but its Accusations Committee is notoriously ineffective.

Alvaro Uribeexecutive orderIvan Duque

Trending

  • Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’

  • Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance ambitious agenda

  • Colombia’s largest paramilitary group announces unilateral ceasefire

Related articles

  • The men and women who will govern Colombia in the coming years

  • Gustavo Petro sworn in as Colombia’s new president

  • How violent Colombia became while Duque was in office

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top