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World

Colombian lawmakers vote to end presidential re-election, reinstating ban lifted in 2004

Associated Press
Published | Updated

BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombian lawmakers have approved a proposal to end presidential re-election.

Opposition congresswoman Tatiana Cabello told The Associated Press that lawmakers in the House of Representatives, after the eighth and final debate in both legislative houses, voted 90-10 in favor of prohibiting presidents from seeking re-election.

The bill approved Wednesday was backed by President Juan Manuel Santos' government.

Colombia's 1991 constitution banned presidential re-election, but in 2004 an article was modified to allow then-President Alvaro Uribe to see re-election. Both Uribe and Santos were subsequently re-elected as presidents.

The decision to allow presidential re-election, approved by Congress, became controversial after lawmaker Yidis Medina in 2008 said that officials in Uribe's government had bought his vote. Colombia's Supreme Court later sentenced Medina to 48 months in prison for participating in bribery.