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Colombia's President Issues Surprising Call for Repeat Election - WSJ

Colombia's President Issues Surprising Call for Repeat Election
By JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA
June 28, 2008; Page A5

MEXICO CITY -- Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe has created a political uproar by proposing the country repeat the 2006 presidential election that brought him an unprecedented second term but has been questioned by the Supreme Court as possibly illegitimate.

In a surprise move Thursday, Mr. Uribe went on radio and television to propose that the 2006 election be repeated. Mr. Uribe acted after the country's Supreme Court questioned the legitimacy of the constitutional amendment that permitted the election.

Mr. Uribe's surprise move upended Colombia's political landscape and caused the country's currency, the peso, to fall sharply.

Some analysts said Mr. Uribe's decision, if he carries it out, could greatly damage Colombia's democracy, its international image and its relations with its key ally, the U.S.

Among other things, Mr. Uribe's action would draw comparisons with attempts by his neighbor, Venezuela's fiery leftist President Hugo Chávez, to remain in power. Mr. Chávez, after winning election in 1998, changed the constitution to let himself run for another term. A second attempt by Mr. Chávez to change the constitution to allow him unlimited election failed last year. Like Mr. Chávez, Mr. Uribe has been mulling running for a third term, which would require another amendment of Colombia's constitution.

"This is a country that has, despite all its troubles, very strong democratic institutions. Changing the rules in midcourse raises serious questions about the strength of its democracy," said Michael Schuster, a Colombia analyst at Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue. "At a minimum, it will hurt Colombia's relations with the U.S. and the international community."

Claudia López, a Bogota political analyst, said Mr. Uribe's move was reminiscent of actions taken by authoritarian rulers around the world. "All dictators resort to plebiscites and referendums when they don't want to obey judicial rulings," she said.

Mr. Uribe's decision also comes at an awkward time for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, who is scheduled to visit Bogota next week.

But others said it was a bold political move that could allow Mr. Uribe to prolong his stay in power while dispensing with the need for him to seek yet another constitutional reform, necessary for Mr. Uribe to run for a third term.

That electorate is highly likely to give him another term. Mr. Uribe enjoys an 84% approval rating, the highest of any of the hemisphere's leaders, for his success in beating back Colombia's communist guerrillas and presiding over an economic rebirth.

But Mr. Uribe has been entangled in a long-running judicial confrontation with Colombia's Supreme Court, which hours earlier ruled that former Congresswoman Yidis Medina had accepted bribes from government officials in exchange for her vote which allowed the constitutional amendment to pass permitting the president to run for re-election.

Ms. Medina was sentenced to 47 months in prison, and the court referred the question of the legality of the election for action to Colombia's constitutional court. "The approval of the constitutional reform was an expression of a clear deviation of power...crime can't generate any form of constitutional or legal legitimacy," wrote the Supreme Court judges.

By tejasmarcos on Jun 28, 2008, 07:50 in Friendly Talkzone.

tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 07:50:

funny, this article blames part of the pesos fall on this issue.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 10:38:

Photobucket

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 10:42:

Mitch, the time for slogans is over....this is an issue that demands more in-depth consideration.

Would you support Mr. Uribe if he turns into a dictator and tyrant?

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 10:52:

Desi my beautiful moderator..... I have chosen to stand by my president 100%.

Is my country in a perfect situation, absolutely not. But I recall much worse days and see only improvement since Uribe has been in control.

The man has "guevas". He is battling everyone in our corrupt country. He doesnt give a shit. He'll take on whomever and whenever.

Just fyi if he was turning into a dictator and a tyrant why would he propose a REVOTE, isnt that the ultimate sign of democracy? The will of the people expressed through a vote?

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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gimmedub says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:19:

i think it's a great way for him to stay in power for a couple more years without having to change the constitution *again*... also I agree with Mitch - it's about time someone stops the corruption in a country that has the ability to easily achieve developed country status...

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:21:

He's proposing a referendum; no he is not proposing, he's ordering the Congress to prepare the necessary legislation for a referendum; that's a 100% populistic move (a la Fujimori), a dangerous precedent and shows that he considers himself above the laws and institutions of his country (aspiring a position that no leader in a true democracy ought to find himself/herself in).

Mitch, your loyalty is an honorable thing, if misdirected. You should pledge yourself loyal to the legitimate government of your country and the democrtatic traditions (however flawed) of it.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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rocinante says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:26:

If Abe Lincoln wants to run a few times I'd vote for him.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:35:

Even if Old Abe dismissed the Supreme Court and closed the Congress? (I'm not saying Uribe has done that or is going to do that, Fujimori certainly did)
Would you still vote for him?
Is that the kind of country you would want to live?

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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juancegomez says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:42:

"Mr. Uribe's surprise move upended Colombia's political landscape and caused the country's currency, the peso, to fall sharply."

While, like I said elsewhere, haven't really been focusing on this particular issue as much as I probably should, and would welcome expert commentary ...it seems this article is ignoring that the peso had begun falling, probably intentionally so, even before Uribe announced his move, when the Bank of the Republic did certain things. Remember that worries about the falling dollar and demands for such measures were being heard for quite a while.

Attributing this to Uribe's words, which only came up at 11:00 PM or so on the 26th, is pretty sloppy.

A recent Portafolio articles addresses the issue far better than I could:

http://www.portafolio.com.co/economia/economiahoy/2008-06-28/ARTICULO-...

Also, it seems this referendum, as questionable as it clearly is, will not extend Uribe's term, but will "ratify" his original mandate to stay for another two years. Or at least that is what is being said. A lot will depend on the wording of the question to be voted on.

What such a "ratification" will mean, when the legal issue of the reelection bill's current validity still needs to be examined by the Constitutional Court -and so will the referendum per se, before it is even voted- is another matter. But this isn't really addressed by the article, even admitting that Uribe's initial words were open to many interpretations...and still are, to an extent, depending on what actually happens.

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rocinante says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:44:

Sometimes constitutions and laws that are hundreds of years old need to be adapted.

Colombia is a democracy. Uribe has achieved unparalleled results. No matter how you word it he's proposing a referendum. The people will vote as they have done before.

But you're right, Uribe is a horrible loathsome dictator who is dissing the supreme court. Yet somehow the country is doing great and he's got over an 80 percent approval rating.

I personally think a democracy should allow a president to run until the people vote for another president. The only problem is that if a president keeps getting elected the same actor who plays him on Saturday Night Live gets to work for a long time.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 11:54:

Roci, Colombia is a democracy and in a true democracy it the LAWS that rule, not any determined person. And Colombian constitution is not hundred od years old, it's from 1991. It also happens to be a remarkably good document that deserves to be respected.
I personally think no ONE PERSON should ever be above the laws and the constitution of any country.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:00:

Oh God listen im no political expert and Desi you sound pretty informed so I wont go toe to toe with this. But in the simplest form, in the end wouldnt a vote of the PEOPLE entail a democrtaic process? Wouldnt a vote to support Uribe speak volumes about the countries support for our leader and put to end the questions there are about the past election?

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:08:

I'm no expert either and not a political person to start with at all. But to answer your question, no, that's not the way a true democracy works, because it does not provide the right framework and viable democratic process to be a reliable measure. We all know from all the lessons from history how some of the worst tyrants and dictators have relied on their immense popularity and how a referendum can only be useful as a consultative measure.

I'm afraid it isn't that simple. Every dictator/populist leader have always been able to have the people on their side.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:14:

I would vote for Uribe, time and time again, if he want to be the KING OF COLOMBIA I would vote for him!
I was borne and raised in Medellin, and since I live here in S. California, I keep very close to my family, and visit every year sometimes for months. I have never seen Colombia like a president, or a president do anything good for the security of our country. Uribe has change our county, and it would take many years to get even better. You can not compare Fujimori or Chavez to Uribe, that is a disgrace!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:22:

Lisa, your hero is looking more and more like Mr. Chavez and Mr. Fujimori,day by day.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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rocinante says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:36:

to you

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:50:

your right day by day.....im afraid day by day your turning into another buggy..... will i be seeing pro guerrilla and pro chavez posts from you soon?

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:54:

I am not very good with politics, I just see and heard, what I see and heard.
There was never a time I would call my family before I was going and my sister would say how safe it was, now for few years I hear the opposite, and I was there for 2 months last year, and travel freely every where, I could not do that few years back.
Uribe is not my hero, he is the best president that Colombia ever had, and has been doing everything he can possibly do under the circumstances of the mess Colombia has been for 45 years !.

If someone else can do exactly as Uribe, I would go for that.

Some people live in Colombia for few years or date a Colombian, then they think they are experts in our way of life and know everything about our country.

You have to be born there and live it day by day!.

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:57:

Lisa me estas tirando a mi o que?

"Some people live in Colombia for few years or date a Colombian, then they think they are experts in our way of life and know everything about our country.
" a quien te refieres?

just curious...

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 12:59:

a true democracy votes someone like Bush into office who starts an unprecedented costly war that has run our debt higher than it has ever been in history creating compounding effects that are now echoing throughout the world economies. viva democracy? the usa hunted down saddam because he killed a few hundred campesinos with mustard gas, and hung him. yet, the current war has claimed the lives of more than 3000 northamericans, yet Bush is still allowed to live. viva democracy?

- i don't know. it is a double edged sword. you want to back a good leader, but at what cost? hard to say.....

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:00:

Claro que no papasito!....
Hablo de los extranjeros que van por unos anos, y ya se creen expertos.

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:03:

actually tejas didnt bush loose the first election on popular votes? correct me if im wrong but he won first because of the outdated electoral college system and second because of the disaster florida was.

i dont think bush was ever a good leader.

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:08:

Lisa Zee, a listo miamor... sorry. me confundi un poco.

Sabes que miamor i understand los extranjeros y los respeto. Yo por mucho tiempo que pase aca en la USA no pretendo ser experto en politica americana. Y yo soy Ciudadano Americano y siempre hago uso de mi deber/derecho de votar. Pero pues como dije antes..... i was a child watching shit happen all around me. Some people here on pbh have never seen one single person shot right next to them. I witnessed several, which would even happen in one day.

Im not too old to have witnessed las guerras entre los liberales y los conservadores who are the true beginning to all this shit we witness. But I certainly recall the 80's with Cartel wars, ELN, M-19, Farc, inseguridad, paracos, pandillas, milicias populares, i can go on and on.

Ive lost family members to this shit.

Pardon my french......but fuck them all. Mi pais es 100% mejor con Alvaro Uribe. Y el que no este de acuerdo tiene que ser muy guevon. Nada en la vida es perfecto y el tiene mucho que hacer para ayudar a otros sectores de nuestra poblacion. Pero que mi pais esta mejor

Hell fuckin yeah.

Uribe 100%

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:10:

the recount was in his brother's state of florida (jeb bush, governor)..... coincidence? nope

- he was a joke as governor of texas, right about the time he got involved with the boys at enron. he will go down as one of the most detrimental presidents in history and the effects will be felt for the next 20 years.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:20:

Yo no soy buena para escribir, pero digo que, porque gente de otras naciones vienen y viven es su pequeño mundo en nuestro país, chapusean el idioma, y juzgan solo por lo que ven. No me refiero a nadie en particular solo en general.
Tengo un ejemplo bueno de un amigo Austriaco(este si es directo a el) que visita a Colombia y le mande el articulo ese de los edificios de Medellin y me salio con una barrabasada, que shame on the person que tomo esas fotos, porque el no vio sino pobreza cuando monto en el metro, que gente robando piedras del rió Medellin, y gente lavando ropa en esas agua negras?!

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:22:

jaja pobre gueva

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:28:

I have a republican friend and she says that GWB is doing a good job and things are the way they should be, It is okay to have the boys at war. the darn democrats want us to support them, she is VERY wealthy and smart. I can`t believe those words are coming from her mouth!?

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:36:

lisa you answered your own question.

She is very wealthy and smart. jaja

Bush simply put continued to make the rich richer. Along the way cutting taxes for rich, making life miserable for the middle class, and well the lower income.... they have been fucked since he stole florida and the country.

Without a doubt this upcoming election is one of the most important in a long time.

War vs. Diplomacy

Debt due to foreign wars vs. Debt due to investment in our country/people

Conservative supreme court vs. progressive supreme court

The 10 percent of extremely wealthy america receiving bigger tax cuts and expanding their empires vs. taxing the weatlhiest to support a more just and socially responsible society

like i said im no expert......... but i say when bush is done. take him in a plane over iran put a parachute on him and kick him off the plane.

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:38:

denial is a strong thing. i know alot of rich folk back in the states that are taking it in the shorts and wishing they never put the jackass in office. the desire to be a "republican" is much stronger than the logic to promote a better candidate, unfortunately.

- i remember all the SUV's rolling around town with "GWB" stickers in the back window. there were alot of people "drinking the cool aid" in those days. just goes to show how easy it is to dupe the masses. 90% of northamericans are "followers" to begin with.

- Colombians have a hell of a president right now and the people are behind him for good reason, legalities aside. the precedent this referendum sets is a scary thing as Desi points out, maybe not now, but it could come back to bite the Colombian people in the butt when the next "not so great" candidate comes into office.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:40:

:) How about no parachute? Just kidding.

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:47:

the usa has one of the most corrupt systems in the world. however, they do a great job of hiding it and manipulating the media to subjugate the american public.

- when i see uribe visiting the various pueblitos all around the country, it sure looks like he cares enough to take the time to touch the people and listen to their concerns. however, this is probably good strategy as well.

- all i know is that i would trade 100 GWB's for 1 AU in a heart beat right now.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:48:

correct me if im wrong but uribes proposed referendum does not include extending his presidency beyond 2010. Isnt it just to validate his current term?

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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lpdiver says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:51:

Uribe has "sworn" time and again that he would not seek reelection...once a liar...forever a liar.

ts

"cook some rice!"

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:55:

bottom line is that colombia needs a good 10 years with strong leadership in order to catapult itself far away from the last 25 years. 2 more years is not gonna cut it...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:56:

im still not sure whether i support another uribe term..... simply because who else has the balls to continue doing what he is doing: fighting everyone.

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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goin_south says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:57:

Hardly ever.....Almost never....
....Can I say:
......................I TOLD YOU SO... A HUNDRED TIMES.

Where do we go from here?

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:57:

Right on Tejas!.

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:58:

i thought ex medellin mayor fajardo was being talked up to run for office? he sounds like a great follow up president to uribe to me...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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lpdiver says on Jun 28, 2008, 13:59:

Who was first g_s? You or me?

tm...Uribe has done a great job of hiding things as well.

Jejeje

ts

"cook some rice!"

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 28, 2008, 14:05:

lp - so did jack kennedy, one of the greatest and most loved presidents in american history. sometimes you have to cheat a little to win when winning is worth it.

- anybody else remember how dirty the detroit pistons used to play back in th 80's? they forced the entire league to play a more physical game against them in order to win. fight fire with fire...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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romy says on Jun 28, 2008, 14:21:

so much hypocrisy in this thread... can someone explain the difference between GWB and AU?

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 28, 2008, 14:54:

OMG!!!!!! ?????................. What a question! I am out to the beach!

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 28, 2008, 16:02:

riquelme please put me on !!

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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romy says on Jun 28, 2008, 16:10:

so...........

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lpdiver says on Jun 29, 2008, 03:31:

tejas...You compare Kennedy with Uribe then say fight fire with fire. Are you suggesting that Uribe should be assinated?

ts

"cook some rice!"

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aztec says on Jun 29, 2008, 05:09:

lpdiver, No I think he is saying that he should cheat in order to win the election. To paraphrase, use any method to win. A la Kennedy in Cook County!

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 29, 2008, 07:31:

lp - there have been several attempts on his life already. the comparison was made because of the factors involved including ties to mafia related activities, his age, his popularity, his turnaround success, etc.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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