The President of the Republic, Iván Duque, described as paradoxical the ruling of the Superior Court of Ibagué, which ordered five days of arrest against him and the payment of a fine of 15 minimum wages, for having disobeyed an order related to the protection of the Nevados National Park.
He considered that the decision not only it is unconstitutional, but it is not firm and it is an open prevarication.
“We hope that the Council of Judicial Discipline and that the Public Ministry act taking into account that these decisions, which in addition to violating the Constitution, must be observed by all instances, so that it is absolutely clear what the true meaning of a political decision was and without legal support,” he added.
The Head of State assured thatThe Government knows how to abide by judicial decisions when ordered to protect certain ecosystems in Colombia.
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“We have seen an act that is inexplicable because it wants to go over the jurisdiction where the president is supposedly ordered to be arrested for failing to comply with said sentence, which we have already complied with,” he said.
During the Building Country Workshop in Montería, Córdoba, The Colombian president stated that he has always had a culture of biodiversity conservation, taking into account that Colombia is the second most biodiverse country on the planet.
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He recalled that in his government the laws climate action and environmental crimes, In addition, protected areas are being increased.
“As President of the Republic together with my officials who have to do with the issue, we have worked to comply with the protection of the Parque de los Nevados and it has been reported in a timely manner,” he added.
For his part, the Minister of Justice, Wilson Ruizconsidered that despite the fact that the evidence on compliance with the protection ruling for said park was delivered, the Superior Court of Ibagué ignored the efforts of the Government in the conservation of all the natural areas of the country.
“This Court also unaware of its own powers, as well as of the other authorities that should attend to make a decision how it is in front of the head of state, whose constitutional jurisdiction was not taken into account,” Minister Ruiz pointed out.
It concluded that the decision of said court should be reviewed and provide the jurisdictional degree of consultation before the Supreme Court of Justice, so that the aforementioned order is not final.
President Duque has the possibility to appeal the rulingwhich is why what was determined by the Court of Ibagué is not immediately applicable.
