The first Congressional debate about the possible re-election of Colombian
president Álvaro Uribe Tuesday focused on the possible personal interest of
congressmen to have Uribe re-elected. Coalition party Cambio Radical
asked congressmen to disclose what family members have been given diplomatic jobs.
According to representative Carlos Fernando Moto of Cambio Radical, some legislators would lose their objectivity in the vote if they had ties to the government and would vote in favor for a re-election to protect their personal interest.
“Some congressmen could be linked to a conflict of interest. If the approval of the project results in the benefit of some relatives, the re-election could be nullified by the State Council,” the Congressman said.
Former congressmen Yidis Medina is currently serving more than four years house arrest, because she admitted having voted in favor of Uribe’s previous re-election after being promised diplomatic jobs. A second congressman and members of the Uribe administration are still under investigation.