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Uribe fails in Colombia term bid | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Constitutional judges in Colombia have rejected a bid to allow President Alvaro Uribe to stand for a third term in office, legal sources say. | |
The court reportedly voted 7-2 against a proposal backed by parliament to hold a referendum on amending the constitution to allow for three terms. | |
Mr Uribe won an amendment in 2005 that let him run for a second term in 2006. | Mr Uribe won an amendment in 2005 that let him run for a second term in 2006. |
The president had not said he hoped to stand in the 30 May election but analysts expected that he would. | |
Mr Uribe remains popular after pursuing aggressive military action against leftist Farc rebels, and no strong challengers to him have emerged. | Mr Uribe remains popular after pursuing aggressive military action against leftist Farc rebels, and no strong challengers to him have emerged. |
Popular policy | |
Last year, Colombia's Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly backed the proposed amendment on term limits. | |
We cannot change direction, we cannot have a change of guard Alvaro UribeColombian President Profile: Alvaro Uribe Velez | We cannot change direction, we cannot have a change of guard Alvaro UribeColombian President Profile: Alvaro Uribe Velez |
"Whoever has been elected president of the republic for two constitutional terms can be elected solely for one other term," it states. | "Whoever has been elected president of the republic for two constitutional terms can be elected solely for one other term," it states. |
Correspondents say that any candidate chosen to replace the president from among his allies would continue his Democratic Security Policy, the foundation of his popularity. | |
"Those policies have to be re-elected whatever the decision of the court," Mr Uribe said on Thursday evening. | "Those policies have to be re-elected whatever the decision of the court," Mr Uribe said on Thursday evening. |
"We cannot change direction, we cannot have a change of guard." | "We cannot change direction, we cannot have a change of guard." |
Critics have said that allowing Mr Uribe to stand again might threaten democracy. | |
His second term has been marred by scandals over human rights abuses by troops and the illegal wiretapping of his opponents by the state intelligence agency. | |
On Wednesday, police re-arrested a cousin and close ally of the president, former senator Mario Uribe Escobar, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged links between politicians and right-wing paramilitary groups. | On Wednesday, police re-arrested a cousin and close ally of the president, former senator Mario Uribe Escobar, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged links between politicians and right-wing paramilitary groups. |
More than 60 politicians are still in jail in connection with the case known as the "para-political" scandal. | More than 60 politicians are still in jail in connection with the case known as the "para-political" scandal. |