The Colombian government’s proposals for political reform
nearly died Thursday. Not only the opposition, but also coalition party Cambio
Radical turned against the law that, according to the Government, seeks
to eliminate criminal and paramilitary influence in Colombia’s Congress.
The session was adjourned and postponed to Monday when it became clear that the proposal wouldn’t survive a vote.
Postponing the vote was the initiative of coalition party Cambio Radical, that over time has become the coalition’s weakest link with an increasingly independent political agenda.
Cambio Radical wasn’t to talk to the opposition parties first to reach consensus about the reform, because “a constitutional reform that’s only supported by the parties of the government is not good,” Cambio Radical senator Plinio Olano explained newspaper El Espectador.
The opposition already spoke of the death of the proyect. The reform is sunk, Liberal senator Hector Eli Rojas said, “because on Monday there won’t be time to reconcile the project with the House (…) because of the procedure it’s already sunk.”
Jaime Dussan of Polo Democrático, Colombia’s second opposition party, said he doesn’t “see any future or any possibility the project to be approved, because a reform without consensus is very difficult in national politics.”
The coalition parties that still support the reform do still see a possibility for approval. Senate President Hernan Andrade said the coalition will try to reach an agreement with the opposition Monday morning.
Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio, visibly worried about the lack of progress, remains hopeful and persistent about getting the law approved though. “The opposition insists, but so do I,” he said.