Colombian president is barred from vote

Published on Saturday 27 February 2010 19:20

COLOMBIAN president Alvaro Uribe has been blocked by a court from running for re-election.

The popular Conservative, who has won considerable support for his US-backed war against left-wing guerrillas and drug lords, had tried to lift a constitutional bar on him serving more than two consecutive four-year terms.

But the Constitutional Court on Friday – yesterday UK time – rejected a referendum that had backed Uribe's bid to stay on, should he be re-elected.

Judges voted by 7-2 to block his candidacy, citing irregularities ranging from the referendum's financing to its rocky passage through Colombia's Congress.

Uribe yesterday said: "I accept and I respect the decision of the Constitutional Court. One dream inspires me: that the country betters its path, but does not change it."

After the ruling, Uribe's former defence minister Juan Manuel Santos confirmed his intention to run for the presidency. Santos leads in the opinion polls.

Under Uribe, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), have been weakened, and foreign investment has flowed steadily into the country.

Many Colombians, even his foes, praised Uribe, the 57-year-old son of wealthy landowners, as a man who managed to steer the country onto the right track. But the re-election question dominated the agenda for more than a year as the president remained evasive on whether he would run.

Any candidate to succeed Uribe is unlikely to shift far from his security policies or position on Colombia's difficult relationship with neighbouring Venezuela. Most, however, say they will focus more on social development. The vote will take place in May.