Colombia bill allowing Uribe re-election takes blow

Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:44pm BST
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* Lawmakers nervous about court probe of process

* Uribe seen easily winning re-election

By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA, June 19 (Reuters) - The final vote on a bill aimed at letting popular Colombian President Alvaro Uribe seek a third term next year was postponed on Friday, decreasing chances it will pass in time to allow him to run.

Different versions of the measure have passed the Senate and lower House. A bicameral reconciliation commission put aside the bill until Congress reconvenes on July 20.

The committee appeared to have enough votes to pass the proposal, which calls for a voter referendum asking for a change in the constitution to allow an immediate third term.

But lawmakers are nervous about a court investigation into the legality of the process by which Uribe's supporters collected signatures in support of the referendum proposal.

The presidential election is only 11 months away.

If the proposal passes the committee, it would have to be reviewed by the Constitutional Court, a process that could take up to six months, according to legal experts.  Continued...

 
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