Colombia’s State Council will examine whether it was legal for President Juan Manuel Santos to compose a new shortlist of candidates for the position of prosecutor general, replacing that drawn up by former President Alvaro Uribe.
According to a complaint filed with the judicial body, Santos overstepped his authority by replacing the shortlist composed by his predecessor close to a year and a half ago.
The election of a new prosecutor general has caused tensions between Colombia’s judicial and executive branch as the Supreme Court – responsible for the election – has so far failed to elect any of the candidates, while Uribe refused to change his shortlist.
Lawyer Juan Camilo Aparacio, who filed the complaint, asked the State Council to order the Supreme Court not to vote on the shortlist as long as the council hasn’t ruled on the complaint.