Despite a scolding by Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia
Cossio, members of the Uribista coalition in Colombia’s House of
Representatives refuse to approve the political reform the government
wants to avoid criminal or paramilitary influence in Congress.
“Pirates” within the coalition, mostly affected by the parapolitics scandal that has over 60 congressmen investigated for ties to right wing paramilitary organization AUC, are refusing to vote in favor of the reforms, making it impossible to be approved.
The refusal to agree outraged Valencia, who openly questioned the reasons of certain congressmen to block a vote. “This seems very complex and delicate to me. It is a subject that will have to be explained to the country,” he said.
Government and representatives of the coalition parties are trying to find a way out of the status quo.