Given the decision made by Judge 44 Criminal of the Bogotá Circuit to declare the former president of Colombia Álvaro Uribe Vélez guilty for bribery in criminal action and procedural fraud, the National Guild Council requested that the process be developed with all constitutional guarantees.
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“In that sense, and in relation to the recent first instance ruling in the criminal process against former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, we consider it essential that it develops with full respect for constitutional guarantees, including due process, double instance, the right to defense and the presumption of innocence, which remains in force until there is no final sentence in firm, in accordance with article 29 of the Political Constitution of the Political Constitution”, Highlighted the union.
The association of the more than 30 largest guilds in the country also expressed its respect for the administration of justice, recognizing its fundamental role as one of the pillars of the Social State of Law and Colombian Democracy. Judicial decisions, even when they generate debate or controversythey must be processed within the institutional causes, in an environment of legality and respect for constitutional principles.
Sympathizers of former President Álvaro Uribe outside Paloquemao Judicial Complex.
Called to democratic responsibility
Likewise, from the Guild Council a call was made to the democratic responsibility of all institutional and political actors so that this ruling does not exercise some kind of pressure against the next elections in Colombia.
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“It is essential to avoid that this decision be instrumentalized for electoral, partisan or social polarization purposes. Justice must remain out of political pressures or short -term interests and its independence must be protected as a basic principle of the constitutional order,” assured.
And he added: “We trust that the higher judicial instances will act independently, legal rigor and full subject to the law. We sincerely hope that in the course of the appeal the former president can demonstrate his innocence, and that said process contributes to the clarification of the facts with justice and transparency”.
And they also called on citizenship, political actors and institutions so that this moment is an opportunity with which the collective commitment to the separation of powers, the independence of justice, due process and institutional solidity that characterizes a mature and responsible democracy that guarantees freedoms and Rights of all Colombians.
Leidy Julieth Ruiz Clavijo
Portfolio journalist
