Colombian Congress’ Accusations Committee formally opens an investigation into whether President Juan Manuel Santos’ shortlist of candidates for the position of prosecutor general was legal, El Espectador reported on Thursday.
The State Council made its first formal complaint in November, 2010, after Santos composed a new shortlist of candidates for the position of prosecutor general, replacing that drawn up by former President Alvaro Uribe.
According to the council, Santos overstepped his authority by replacing the shortlist composed by his predecessor close to a year and a half earlier.
Lawyer Juan Camilo Aparacio filed the complaint against Santos to the Supreme Court in November.
He also requested an investigation into the four magistrates of the State Council who enabled Santos to change the shortlist.
The president’s shortlist consisted of Juan Carlos Esguerra Portocarrero, Carlos Gustavo Arrieta Padilla, and current Prosecutor General, Viviane Morales.
Santos’ action broke the deadlock which lasted for more than a year, when the Supreme Court was unable to reach the necessary consensus on any one of the shortlisted candidates.
