In the Congress of the Republic, the political reform project, an initiative promoted by the Government and the parties to modify the Colombian electoral system, has already advanced in its first debate.
on the initiative some proposals were included that could benefit the legislators themselves and one of them has to do with the possibility that parliamentarians may have other types of aspirations.
For examplean article was given free rein that would allow political leaders to run as mayoral and gubernatorial candidates without having to give up their seat, just as it happens today when senators or representatives want to aspire to the Presidency of the Republic.
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Currently, congressmen who want to become governor or mayor must resign their seats one year before the election, although other interpretations indicate that the resignation must occur six months before registration.
The truth is that said restriction would be eliminated, which would allow senators or representatives to the Chamber to present themselves as candidates in the regional elections, holding their position in the Congress of the Republic.
Another of the articles that was approved in the political reform in its first debate has to do with the possibility that parliamentarians can be ministers in the event that the President of the Republic considers that any of the members of his caucus should work hand in hand with him in the Executive power. To do this, the legislative act removes the restriction of having to resign a year before to take up a cabinet position.
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Senate President Roy Barreras defended these proposals saying that “when the list is closed and the number of periods is limited, the parties will be able to give the order to their militants to send them to the local, departmental or national government, to have them elect mayors or governors or call them to serve as ministers so that the next one can enter.”
“It gives the parties mobility, but it also allows for political responsibility. Today the parties that are in government, do not govern, but have to get third parties, friends, figureheads or spontaneous ones who end up exercising the Government without having had any participation in the election and without any political participation”, he added.
The political reform will now go to study in the plenary session of the Senate where it will have its second debate. The initiative must be approved in its first four debates before December 16.
