Colombian coalition Representatives will write a letter to the Supreme
Court asking to not investigate them for allegedly illegally passing the bill
approving the referendum needed for the
re-election of President Alvaro Uribe.
The lawmakers also announced a Plan B in case the referendum is not approved due to the Court’s intervention.
The complete coalition met with Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio and Uribe’s personal Secretary Bernardo Moreno to discuss the problems that arose after the Supreme Court decided to investigate the possible illegality of the vote; the coalition lawmakers are afraid to massively be dismissed from Congress if the high court decides there is enough evidence to charge the Representatives. The lawmakers — afraid to lose their job — now refuse to vote further on the subject.
After meeting with the government representatives, the coalition Representatives announced to be writing a letter to the Supreme Court asking not to be prosecuted, assuring that they stayed within the law in the approval of the bill. Judicial advisers will help the lawmakers to formulate their claim.
If the fear for judicial interference remains and prevents the referendum to be approved, the coalition says to organize a National Constituent Assembly to secure the popular vote.
According to Roy Barreras, Representative for the Partido de la U, this Assembly can solve issues like that of the referendum and the recent clashes between the judicial and executive power, without elaborating how.