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74-621: Independents (47) Opposition (23) Vacant (3) Independents (81) Opposition (37) Not elected [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Congress of the Republic of Colombia ( Spanish : Congreso de la República de Colombia ) is the name given to Colombia 's bicameral national legislature . The Congress of Colombia consists of the 108-seat Senate , and the 188-seat Chamber of Representatives , Members of both houses are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The composition, organization and powers of Congress and

148-670: A FARC hostage. On November 21, 2006 members of the pro-Uribe caucus met in the Palacio de Nariño to discuss the Supreme Court decision on the three jailed congressmen. In that meeting Senator Álvaro Araújo Castro mentioned; If they come for me, it means that they are also coming for the minister (his sister), the Inspector General ( Edgardo Maya Villazon ) and the President (Uribe). When knowledge of this remark

222-635: A laptop computer belonging to the organization of former paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar Pupo , aka Jorge 40 . The so-called "para-political scandal" was set in motion in June 2005 after Clara López Obregón , a member of the opposition Alternative Democratic Pole party, formally denounced before the Colombian Supreme Court the existence of links between paramilitaries and some congressmen. Previously, paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso had said during an interview that some 35% of

296-426: A bill with objections is 6 days (no more than 20 articles in the bill), 10 days (21-50 articles) or 20 days (over 50 articles). If the prescribed delay expires without the government having returned the bill with its objections, the President shall approve and promulgate it. If the bill is again adopted by an absolute majority of the members of both houses, the President must sign the bill without objection. However, if

370-464: A call to support the Supreme Court on the situation and uncover the truth behind the paramilitary-politicians links. He alleged that problems were not only in congress, but also in other sectors of Colombian society. He further alleged that other elected officials indirectly benefited from the paramilitary pressure over voters. The President [Uribe] had a passive attitude throughout the campaign in relation to these subjects and I would say that he has been

444-401: A decision within a 30-day period (Article 163). In addition to this urgent procedure, it is also constitutionally established that priority is given to bills ratifying human rights treaties (Article 164). A number of citizens equivalent to 10% of registered voters may request a referendum for the repeal of a law. The law is repealed if an absolute majority of voters so decide, as long as turnout

518-437: A first debate but not completed the procedure in one legislative year will continue the process in the subsequent legislative year, but no bill can be considered by more than two legislatures. In the case of differences between the versions approved by the two houses, a conciliation commission made up of an equal number of members of both houses is formed to re-conciliate both texts, or, if not possible, decide by majority vote on

592-492: A little too passive all the time, but he is still on time to assume a more decisive position to confront these problems. Two days later on November 17 in a speech directed to the Supreme Court, president Uribe reacted to the Court's decision to indict any politician linked to paramilitaries and said that "criminal responsibilities are individual" and that "the truth that was surfacing was a result of his democratic security plan and

666-408: A member of any board or executive committee of decentralized public entities or institutions administering taxes. Violations of the rules of ineligibility, incompatibility, conflict of interest lead to the loss of one's mandate ( investidura ) as congressmen; as does an absence (during the same session) to six plenary sessions, failing to take their seat within eight days following the first meeting of

740-439: A number of citizens equivalent to at least 5% of registered voters at the time or 30% of municipal councillors or departmental deputies also hold legislative initiative under article 155, and these bills benefit from an accelerated procedure (see below). The above notwithstanding, in certain cases bills may only be initiated by the government (see the second paragraph of article 154). Bills related to taxes may only be introduced in

814-401: A report for a second debate in the plenary of either house. The report is published for debate in the respective house, and the speaker explains to the full house the bill and the report. Similar to what happens during the first debate in commission, the floor is open to debate and testimony, followed by discussion of the bill in its entirety or by article. If the bill is approved by the house, it

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888-693: A representative of indigenous communities in the Senate must have held a traditional authority role in their community or have been the leader of an indigenous organization. The House has 166 elected members for four-year terms. The House of Representatives is elected in territorial constituencies, special constituencies and an international constituency. Each department (and the capital district of Bogotá D.C. ) form territorial electoral constituencies ( circunscripciones territoriales ). Each constituency has at least two members, and one more for every 365,000 inhabitants or fraction greater than 182,500 over and above

962-407: A result of the 2015 constitutional reform, the number of seats allocated to Colombian citizens resident abroad will be reduced to one, from 2018 onward, as an additional special seat will be created for the territorial constituency of Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina to represent the archipelago's Raizal community. The current threshold in order to obtain seats is 50% of

1036-465: A secret document known as the Pact of Paramillo Knot or as the "Pact of Ralito". The text of the document called for "refounding the country", signing a new social contract and maintaining national independence, among other statements. When the document's existence was revealed in late 2006, participants such as former congresswoman Elenora Pineda have argued that the document sought to be a contribution to

1110-502: A system, the greater the likelihood of multiple political parties appearing in the parliamentary debating chamber . Such systems can foster multiple "opposition" parties which may have little in common and minimal desire to form a united bloc opposed to the government of the day. Some well-organised democracies, dominated long-term by a single faction, reduce their parliamentary opposition to tokenism . In some cases, in more authoritarian countries, tame "opposition" parties are created by

1184-451: A text. The text chosen by the commission is sent to the floor of both houses for debate and approval. If differences persist, the bill is considered defeated (Article 161). Once a bill has been approved in two debates in each house, the bill is sent to the government (President) for its approval. The Colombian President formally lacks veto power, but may object to a bill and return it to the houses for second debates. The delay for returning

1258-457: Is over 25%. No referendums may be held on international treaties duly ratified, the budget or laws pertaining to fiscal and tax matters (Article 170). Parliamentary opposition In first-past-the-post assemblies, where the tendency to gravitate into two major parties or party groupings operates strongly, government and opposition roles can go to the two main groupings serially in alternation. The more proportionally representative

1332-405: Is sent to the other house, where it follows the same process through the equivalent commission and later to the floor of the house. Between the first and second debates, a period of no less than eight days must have elapsed, and between the approval of the bill in either house and the initiation of the debate in the other, at least 15 days must have elapsed (Article 159). A bill which has received

1406-453: The Chamber of Representative 's Commission of Accusations to investigate President Uribe's possible links to paramilitaries. On April 23, 2008 President Uribe revealed that a former paramilitary fighter had accused him of helping to plan a 1997 massacre, a charge which he said was under official investigation. Uribe described the accuser as a "disgruntled convict with an axe to grind", denied

1480-537: The Colombian Constitution , 100 senators ( senadores ) are elected from a single national constituency . The remaining two are elected in a special national constituency for Indigenous communities. The current threshold in order to obtain seats is 3% of valid votes nationally. To be a senator, a person must be a natural-born Colombian citizen over the age of 30 at the time of the election. Representatives of indigenous communities seeking election as

1554-536: The Costa Rican embassy on April 22, 2008, after a prosecution arrest warrant was made public. According to prosecutors, witnesses have claimed that the former President of Congress met with paramilitary leaders in 1998 to jump start a strategy to seize farms in several departments. Former paramilitary boss Salvatore Mancuso had previously told the Prosecution he had met with Uribe Escobar in 2002, to ensure

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1628-706: The Magdalena Department governor Trino Luna and in the Cesar Department with Hernando Molina Araújo , among others. President Uribe publicly asked Noguera to appear before the Attorney General's office, but Noguera refused alleging economic and security reasons. Noguera was then acting consul-general in Milan , Italy . He later resigned, returned to the country and appeared before judicial authorities. On February 22, 2007 Noguera

1702-670: The Magistrates of the Penal Chamber of Judicature regarding his connection to Sale. Escobar Araújo's wife, Ana Margarita Fernández , was an official in the Inspector General 's office. Escobar resigned the presidency of the Superior Council on November 30 but continued as a magistrate of that body. On November 15, 2006 former president and leader of the opposing Liberal Party , César Gaviria , made

1776-598: The Superior Council of Judicature , José Alfredo Escobar Araújo acknowledged that he had a friendship with Italian mobster Giorgio Sale , but denied knowledge of Sale's activities as narcotrafficker . Sale has been associated with paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso , himself accused of money laundering , and the Italian mafia group known as 'Ndrangheta . On November 28, 2006 Escobar Araújo said that he would accept any decision and obey any orders from

1850-476: The elected Congress in 2002 were friendly towards their group. The confiscation of a laptop computer belonging to the organization of paramilitary leader Jorge 40 gave increased momentum to the scandal. It contained numerous files that mentioned or implicated politicians and members of the security forces that collaborated with his paramilitary force. On November 9, 2006, the Supreme Court ordered

1924-401: The neoclassical Capitolio Nacional ("National Capitol") building in central Bogotá , the construction of which began in 1847 and was not concluded until 1926. Each house has its own election procedure and individual powers distinguishing them from the other, which are further discussed in the article for each individual house. Each house has its own eligibility requirements established by

1998-522: The Álvaro Uribe Administration supported a political reform law, presented by some congressmen, to tackle the growing scandal of parapolitics in the Colombian Senate. By then 51 Congressmen were suspected of parapolitics. 29 of them were in jail awaiting trial. The government proposed the "Empty Chair" solution; Senators that are suspended or jailed for alleged ties with illegal armed groups may not be replaced by their political parties. This way

2072-604: The 2015 constitutional reform, which added fraudulent wrongdoings against public administration as a crime not resulting in replacement. Although each house of Congress serves a particular role and have individual powers distinguishing them from one another, both houses have certain powers in common, according to Article 135 of the Constitution; namely: The Congress meets as a single body ( Congreso pleno ) only on exceptional occasions, determined by article 18 of Law 5 of 1992. These occasions are: In joint sessions of Congress,

2146-474: The Constitution, but there are common rules of ineligibility and incompatibility ( régimen de inhabilidades e incompatibilidades ), determined by the Constitution. Anyone who has been sentenced to deprivation of liberty (detention) at any time except for political crimes and culpable negligence; hold dual citizenship and are not native-born citizens; held a public employment position with political, civil, administrative or military authority or jurisdiction within

2220-470: The House of Representatives and those involving international relations may only be introduced in the Senate. All bills introduced must comply with certain requirements; among others, a title and number, articles and a statement of motives explaining the importance of the bill and the reasons for it. Upon the bill's introduction, the presidents of both houses decide to which permanent constitutional commission

2294-489: The President objected to the bill for unconstitutionality, the bill will be sent, if the houses insist, to the Constitutional Court. The Court then has six days to rule on the bill's constitutionality; a favourable ruling forces the President to sign the bill, an unfavourable decision defeats the bill. The President may solicit the urgent or accelerated passage of a bill, by which the respective house must take

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2368-627: The President of the Senate acts as President of the Congress and convenes, chairs and directs the session. The Congress meets twice a year in two ordinary sessions: the first from 20 July to 16 December, and the second from 16 March to 20 June. These two sessions form a single legislative year, legally known as a legislature ( legislatura ), of which there are four during the course of a single congressional term. The executive branch can call for extraordinary sessions at any time, but never after 20 June in an election year, and Congress may only discuss

2442-730: The Senator would win the elections in the Córdoba Department . Mancuso later retracted this statement. According to his lawyer, Uribe went to the Costa Rican embassy in Bogotá on the grounds that he didn't have adequate procedural guarantees in Colombia Mario Uribe was temporarily released from prison 20 August 2008. He was set free of prison on November 15, 2012. He spent 54 months in jail. On April 9, 2008

2516-753: The Supreme court started the investigation after statements made by former congresswoman Rocío Arias in Cambio. In an interview with the Colombian magazine the former congresswoman, also under arrest of being involved in parapolitics, said that Gutierrez was supported by paramilitary leader John Fredy ‘The Bird’ Gallo. Gallo is held responsible for the murder of dozens in the Department of Cundinamarca . Mario Uribe Escobar, cousin of President Álvaro Uribe and former President of Congress sought political asylum at

2590-508: The alleged presence of General Hernando Manosalva, who had died months before the date of the meeting where the massacre was planned. His cousin and former Colombian senator, Mario Uribe , was arrested under suspicion of ties to the right-wing paramilitary groups. Former governor of the Sucre Department and former ambassador to Chile , Salvador Arana was accused of homicide. The Attorney General's Office accused him of being

2664-451: The arrest and try them. Members of Congress do not have alternates ( suplente ) and are only replaced in the event of a temporary or permanent absences, as decreed by law, by the next non-elected candidate on the list from which he/she was elected, ranked in order of registration or votes received. Permanent absences include death, physical incapacity, nullification of the election, justified and accepted resignation, disciplinary sanctions and

2738-418: The bill will be sent. Once sent to a commission in each house, the chair of said commission will assign one or more member as speaker ( ponente ), who will study the bill and present a report ( ponencia ) on the bill's benefits (or lack thereof), potential improvements to be made or recommending that the bill be rejected. Upon publication of this report, the commission as a whole meets for debate and discussion on

2812-421: The charges and said there was proof of his innocence. The Colombian newsweekly Revista Semana reported that the paramilitary in question, Francisco Enrique Villalba Hernández, had not mentioned Uribe during previous declarations made more than five years ago, when he was sentenced for his own role in the massacre. The magazine also listed a number of possible inconsistencies in his most recent testimony, including

2886-523: The conclusion of contracts, loans and asset sales by the government; vesting the President with exceptional powers to issue decrees with force of law for a six-month period; establishing national revenues and expenditures; ratifying international treaties signed by the government and granting amnesties or commutations for political crime (with a two-thirds majority). The Constitution differentiates between several different types of laws. Organic laws ( leyes orgánicas ) regulate legislative activity, including

2960-410: The contents of the report. The commission votes on the bill. A bill rejected during this first debate may be reconsidered by the respective house at the request of its author, a member of the house, the government or a spokesperson in case of a popular initiative. If the commission approves the bill, the commission's chair will again assign speakers, charged with reviewing the bill further and presenting

3034-557: The crimes of kidnapping with extortion. The governor of Cesar Department , Hernando Molina Araújo , is accused of handling the money of the paramilitary leader "Jorge 40" during his time as diplomat in Guatemala and co-authoring a massacre. During the elections of 2003 Molina Araújo was accused of benefiting from the paramilitary decision to support his candidacy over the two other contestants Cristian Moreno Panezo and Abraham Romero who were threatened and forced to resign by

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3108-403: The demobilization process of the paramilitary groups". He also mentioned that "the nation needed to know the links between politicians and the guerrilla groups" and that "the judicial and political search for truth for past and present events done by guerrillas and paramilitaries should be supported" On November 29 prior to a debate in Congress, President Uribe reasserted that penal responsibility

3182-466: The detention of three implicated congressmen. Congressman Álvaro García was accused based on charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated delinquency , aggravated homicide , and embezzlement . García was accused by the Supreme Court for organizing, promoting, arming and financing illegal paramilitary groups in the Sucre Department since 1997, for participating in the Macayepo Massacre in

3256-413: The electoral quotient (total votes divided by total seats) in constituencies with over two seats and 30% of the electoral quotient in constituencies with two seats. Seats are then distributed using the distributing number, or cifra repartidora method explained in article 263 of the Constitution. To be a representative, a person must be a Colombian citizen (by birth or naturalization) over the age of 25 at

3330-764: The governing groups in order to create an impression of democratic debate. Some legislatures offer opposition parties particular powers. In Canada , the United Kingdom , and New Zealand , 20 days each year are set aside as " Opposition Days " or "Supply Days", during which the opposition gets to set the agenda. Canada also has a Question Period , during which the opposition (and the Parliament generally) can ask questions of government ministers. Colombian parapolitics scandal The Colombian parapolitics scandal or " parapolítica " in Spanish (a combination of

3404-427: The government, 20% of municipal councillors and departmental deputies or a number of citizens equivalent to at least 5% of registered voters. The procedure for their approval is longer, as they must be approved in two consecutive ordinary sessions. Legislative acts are not the only method to amend the Constitution, nor does Congress hold exclusive powers of constitutional amendment. Bills may originate in either house at

3478-435: The house, improper use of public funds or duly proven influence peddling. The Council of State rules on the loss of mandate within twenty days of the request made by a citizen or the executive committee of the appropriate house. Members of Congress enjoy immunity for their opinions and the votes that they cast in the exercise of their office. For crimes committed during their term, only the Supreme Court of Justice may order

3552-462: The initial 365,000. For the current legislative term (2014-2018), 161 of the 166 House members are elected in territorial constituencies. There are also three special constituencies, electing the remaining five members: one for Indigenous communities currently with one representative, one for Afro-Colombian communities ( negritudes ) currently with two representatives and one for Colombian citizens resident abroad currently with one representative. As

3626-452: The issues submitted for its consideration by the government during these sessions. Each house elects permanent commissions, whose number, composition and responsibilities are determined by law. These commissions, whose existence stems from the Constitution, are known as permanent constitutional commissions and there are currently 14 in Congress - seven in each house. The current permanent commissions are: Legal commissions are those created by

3700-644: The latter's infiltration of Colombian politics and government. According to the newspaper El Tiempo , one of the paramilitary leaders involved, Rodrigo Tovar Pupo , sought to achieve total power in the Atlantic Coast and eventually over Colombia. To achieve this, he and other paramilitary leaders contacted politicians both before, during and after the AUC demobilizations. In 2001, some 32 people, including members of congress, politicians, paramilitary leaders and others, met at Santa Fe de Ralito in order to sign

3774-494: The law, responsible for specific matters outside the competence of the constitutional commission. Three legal commissions exist in both houses - human rights, ethics and congressional rules and document accreditation; two legal commissions exist only in the House of Representatives - public accounts and the investigation and accusation commission. In addition, there are special commissions and incidental commissions. The Senate has 102 elected members for four-year terms. According to

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3848-479: The legislative procedure are established by the fourth title of the Colombian Constitution . According to article 114 of the Constitution, the Congress amends the constitution, makes the law and exercises political control over the government and the public administration. In addition, the Constitution and the law grant other powers to Congress, including certain judicial powers and electing senior judges and other senior public officials. Both houses of Congress meet at

3922-461: The loss of one's mandate. Temporary absences include maternity leave and temporary deprivation of liberty from crimes other than those signalled in the paragraph below. In the wake of the parapolitics scandal , a political reform in 2009 created the so-called silla vacía (empty seat) mechanism, according to which anyone who has been sentenced for membership, promotion or funding of illegal armed groups; drug trafficking; intentional wrongdoing against

3996-480: The mastermind behind the assassination of Eduardo Díaz mayor of a town named El Roble . Díaz had publicly warned that he had been threatened by the paramilitaries. Arana was formally accused by a demobilized paramilitary member called Jairo Castillo aka "Pitirry". Colombia’s Supreme Court announced on April 18, 2008 they are investigating President of Congress Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez for having ties with paramilitary groups. According to Colombian newspaper El Tiempo

4070-568: The military criminal justice system and electoral equality before major presidential candidates. Their approval, amendment and repeal require an absolute majority of the members of both houses and must be completed within a single legislative year. This procedure also includes prior revision by the Constitutional Court (Article 152). Legislative acts ( actos legislativos ) amend the Constitution, and they may be presented by ten members of Congress although they may also be introduced by

4144-479: The paramilitaries. On November 21, 2006, Rafael García Torres, the former Information Technologies Chief of the Administrative Department of Security (DAS) ( Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad ) was questioned by the Supreme Court after being arrested and charged with taking bribes from paramilitaries and narcotraffickers in exchange for erasing or altering their judicial history from

4218-558: The paramilitaries. Most claimed that they had no personal complaints against her, but that she should not remain in her position. As late as February 18, she refused calls for her to step down and received a statement of support from President Álvaro Uribe , who had previously rejected her resignation. However, after her brother's arrest, her second resignation was accepted by the president on February 19, 2007. Uribe selected former Development Minister Fernando Araújo Perdomo as her replacement, just weeks after his escape from six years as

4292-467: The parties would be forced to keep their fraction "clean". A majority of the Colombian House of Representatives agreed with the law. The biggest opposition party Polo Democrático Alternativo , also one of the few parties not affected by the scandal, voted against the law, saying the current legislative chambers have no credibility to solve the problem. On April 16, 2008, one day after the vote in

4366-733: The proposal of their respective members. However, legislative initiative is not limited to members of Congress. Bills may be proposed by the government through the appropriate minister(s); the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Council of Judicial Government, the Council of State, the National Electoral Council, the Inspector General , the Comptroller General and the Ombudsman may also propose bills on matters related to their duties. Finally,

4440-589: The public administration or mechanisms of democratic participation or crimes against humanity cannot be replaced. Likewise, any congressmen who resigns after having been formally indicted in Colombia for any of these crimes or who is temporarily absent after an arrest warrant has been issued for any of these crimes is not replaced. These rules not only apply to Congress, but to all other directly elected bodies - departmental assemblies, municipal councils and local administrative boards. These provisions were strengthened by

4514-582: The rules of Congress and both houses, the budgetary process and the approval of the national development plan. Their approval requires an absolute majority of the members of both houses (Article 151 of the Constitution). Statutory laws ( leyes estatutarias ) regulate fundamental rights and duties and the procedures for their protection; the administration of justice; political parties and movements; electoral regulations; mechanisms for citizen participation (plebiscite, referendum etc.); states of exception ;

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4588-454: The same party for an office elected on the same day may not be members of Congress. The constitution also bans election to or membership in more than one office or body, even if the terms only overlap partially. Members of Congress may not hold another public or private office (except university professorship); manage matters or conclude contracts, in their name or that of someone else, with public entities or persons administering taxes or serve as

4662-492: The scandal was mainly affecting officials or political allies of President Álvaro Uribe 's administration. By April 17, 2012, 139 members of Congress were under investigation. Five governors and 32 lawmakers, including Mario Uribe Escobar , President Uribe's cousin and former President of Congress, were convicted. Relations between politicians, government officials, security forces, other sectors of Colombian society and paramilitary groups have developed for years, resulting in

4736-793: The search of peace in Colombia. Opposition senator Juan Manuel López Cabrales , who also signed the document, argued that he did so in ignorance and under pressure. After the demobilizations had concluded and the scandal broke, several arrests have been made, most recently on February 15, 2007. Senator Álvaro Araújo Castro , brother of former foreign minister María Consuelo Araújo , was among five congressmen arrested on that day. Also arrested were Mauricio Pimiento , Dieb Maloof , Alfonso Campo Escobar , and Luis Eduardo Vives . His arrest lead to her resignation four days later. The Supreme Court investigation into ties between paramilitary groups and congress has been based largely on files discovered on

4810-443: The state intelligence database. García claimed to have knowledge of Jorge 40's plans to corrupt congressmen and install those friendly to his causes. García had already contended that former chief of DAS Jorge Noguera maintained a close relationship with Jorge 40 and that they met several times to talk about local politics, including support for candidates in the 2003] municipal, gubernatorial and presidential elections, among them

4884-460: The time of the election. Congress's main power is to enact, interpret, amend and repeal laws (Article 150). Under this responsibility, some of its specific legal powers include approving the national development plan and related appropriations, defining the division of the territory, determining the structure of national administration (including creating, merging or abolishing ministries, departments and other national public institutions), authorizing

4958-532: The words paramilitar and política ) refers to the 2006–present Colombian congressional scandal in which several congressmen and other politicians have been indicted for colluding with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group which is responsible for killing thousands of Colombian civilians. In February 2007, Colombian Senator Jorge Enrique Robledo suggested another term, "parauribismo", indicating that

5032-488: The year 2000 in which 20 peasants were massacred, for the assassination of Georgina Narváez Wilchez on November 19, 1997 and the appropriation of public funds to finance paramilitary groups. Congressman Jairo Merlano was accused by the Supreme Court and six witnesses of being a formal member of one of the AUC paramilitary groups led by men known by the aliases of " Diego Vecino " ( Edward Cobo ) and " Cadena " (Rodrigo Mercado Pelufo) among others. Congressman Erick Morris

5106-520: The year prior the election; participated in business transactions with public entities or concluded contracts with them, or were legal representatives of entities which handled taxes or quasi-fiscal levies within the six months prior to the election; lost their mandate ( investidura ) as members of Congress or holds ties of marriage or kinship with civil servants holding civil or political authority may not be elected to Congress. In addition, relatives through marriage or kinship who are registered candidates for

5180-469: Was accused by one witness of having ties to paramilitary groups. Congressman Álvaro García was one of his political mentors. On November 15, 2006 the then Minister of Foreign Relations , María Consuelo Araújo , met with the Attorney General and her brother, Senator Álvaro Araújo Castro to inquire about the existence of any investigations against her family. Two days later her brother Álvaro

5254-575: Was arrested, accused of having ties to paramilitaries. On June 11, 2008, the Colombian Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Jorge Noguera. According to the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective, Noguera was only released due to procedural defects; however the charges against him -conspiracy to commit a crime, misuse of authority through an arbitrary and unjust act, and improper use of classified or secret information- may still be prosecuted. The former president of

5328-662: Was identified as part of the investigation. On November 22, minister Araújo publicly announced that the meeting had taken place. During a debate in the Senate on November 29, 2006, senate members of the Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA) headed by Jorge Enrique Robledo and members of the Liberal Party headed by Cecilia López Montaño asked for the Minister's resignation due to her brother's ties to

5402-430: Was individual and that it was necessary to investigate politicians with ties to guerrillas. He also commented that the suspect congressmen were being accused for acts perpetrated before he assumed the presidency in 2002 as a way of distancing himself from the growing scandal. On the same day, the former Interior Minister during President Samper 's administration and prominent Liberal Party leader, Horacio Serpa , called for

5476-505: Was leaked to the press, Araújo explained that he was talking about the possible political toll of the scandal and not about judicial responsibilities. After this controversial comment, Araújo temporarily resigned from his party, Alas-Team Colombia , on November 29, 2006. He was called to testify to the Supreme Court. On February 15, 2007 he was arrested by an order from the Supreme Court, which found enough evidence to continue investigating him for his alleged ties to paramilitary groups and for

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