Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has stressed his desire to continue in politics, local media reported Sunday.
Uribe’s political party, the Democratic Center, in August released the names of 31 candidates for the 2014 Congressional elections, with the former head of state at the top of the list.
MORE: Uribe’s party reveals candidates for Colombia’s 2014 Congressional elections
“I feel obliged to do politics in a country that has been very generous to me and elected me President twice,” explained Uribe. “I think I have the obligation to continue whilst I have the energy.”
But the former head of state has faced fresh allegations of ties to paramilitary groups this month, calling his political future into question. Indeed, a Medellin judge called on the Supreme Court to formally charge Uribe for such ties.
MORE: Medellin court orders Congress, Supreme Court to charge Uribe for paramilitary ties
Furthermore, three Democratic Center candidates are under criminal investigation, calling into question the validity of the party’s self imposed “legal filter.”
MORE: 4 Democratic Center congressional candidates under criminal investigation
But according to Radio Caracol, the former head of state wants to clear the uncertainty surrounding both the Democratic Center and his political future, stating that “by the electoral calendar I have to conclude this discussion with my colleagues and define whether my name is filed as a candidate for Senate. This has to be a subject for the next few hours.”
The Democratic Center intends to collect three million signatures to endorse their candidates to Congress along with the party’s presidential candidate.
Congressional and presidential elections are to be held in March and May 2014 respectively.
Sources
- Me siento en la obligación de seguir haciendo política: Uribe (Caracol Radio)
