Colombia’s House of Representatives approved the political reform
trying to battle paramilitary and criminal influence in Congress, but
only after skipping the article allowing Colombian President Álvaro
Uribe to be re-elected in 2014.
The 2014 re-election proved a too big obstacle for both opposition as coalition. Opposition parties are against the constitutional change in favor of Uribe. Coalition member Partido de la U wants Congress to allow Uribe to run for his second re-election in 2010.
The political reform as approved will prohibit political parties to replace congressmen who have been suspended under suspicion of criminal activities, the so called ’empty-seat’ solution.
Colombian Congress has seen 60 of its lawmakers suspended for suspected ties to right wing paramilitary groups.
The House initially sank the complete political reform.