Colombia’s State Council on Tuesday ruled that Eduardo Montealegre will remain prosecutor general until 2016, in a “historic” decision for the country.
After 11 hours of discussion over whether or not the prosecutor’s term was personal or not, the council voted that the Constitution indeed signals the term should last four years.
The decision was made by 20 votes to three and Montealegre, who will now continue in office until March 2016, declared his satisfaction with the decision.
“It is a vital decision for the country…because it clears up once and for all that the term in office is four years” he said.
Montealegre declared that he will now be able to focus on his priorities before 2016, including preparing the prosecutor general’s office for the peace process and strengthening the fight against organized crime and corruption.
Speaking of his pleasure at the decision, the prosecutor general said “it brings you closer to justice, to the country and you hope not to let down the Colombians who have believed in the country’s prosecutor general’s office.
Montealegre has been in office since March 2012.
MORE: Colombia elects new Prosecutor General
Sources
- Decisión del Consejo de Estado es histórica: Eduardo Montealegre (Caracol)
- Consejo de Estado determinó que fiscal Montealegre se mantendría en el cargo hasta 2016 (W Radio)
- Consejo de Estado estableció periodo del fiscal hasta 2016 (El Universal)
