Colombia: The Democratic System Worked
Ray Walser /
No greater dilemma faced the Colombian political system in recent months than the issue of presidential re-election. Should a constitutional referendum be held to allow a popular, extremely effective leader to run, and likely win, a third term as president? For many Colombians, President Alvaro Uribe had become the indispensable leader.
Yet, across the political spectrum, many friends of Colombia worried about the impact of such concentrated power on the congress and judiciary. A third term for Uribe would damage democratic belief in the alterability of executive power and resemble what authoritarian populist Hugo Chavez is doing to destroy democracy in Venezuela.
On February 27, the Colombian Supreme Court rejected the holding of a referendum. (more…)