Allies petition for third Uribe term in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Allies petition for third Uribe term in Colombia
Mon 11 Aug 2008, 19:20 GMT
By Patrick Markey

BOGOTA, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe edged a step closer to a third consecutive term on Monday after supporters handed in five million signatures petitioning for a referendum to allow the U.S. ally's re-election.

Uribe, popular for beating back rebels with his "Democratic Security" policy, has been evasive about whether he would seek to remain in office. But critics worry a third Uribe term will undermine Colombia's democratic system. Even usually supportive Wall Street investors are skittish.

Flanked by security guards in Bogota, three armored trucks delivered the five million signatures to election officials to petition for the vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow a third presidential term.

~snip
Congress is also mired in a scandal tying scores of Uribe's lawmaker allies to former paramilitary death squads.

More:
http://africa.reuters.com/energyandoil/news/usnN11390556.html

[Bacchus39]

1. yet another Constitutional referendum but then again, 5 million signatures!!!

wow, that's pretty impressive.

here we go again another proposal to change the constitution based on the support of the current incumbent. it goes on and on. makes me glad our Constitution is a pain to change actually.