The incumbent secretary of Colombia’s Senate has decided to seek re-election for a sixth term amid accusations of malfeasance, according to local news source CMI.
Emilio Otero, who has served as the Senate secretary for over ten years, has confirmed that he will be running against 13 other candidates to seek a sixth two-year term in office.
Otero’s monthly salary of up to $24,000 has generated widespread criticism. The scale of Otero’s wages prompted the State Council to file a pending petition to overturn the decree that has appreciated his salary to nearly $300,000 per year.
In August 2011, ex-Senate President Armando Benedetti criticized Otero for regaining the full power of his position, which had been previously restricted due to alleged malfeasance related to renting vehicles.
The prosecutor general anticipates several investigations into Otero related to alleged irregularities in contracts, abuse of functions and irregular appointments, however the cases are still in the prelimary stages.
Prior to his position in the Senate, Otero served for 20 years in Colombian government offices as a messenger, managing director, deputy assistant secretary and assistant secretary general.