10% of Colombia’s 2010-2014 Congress kicked out of office
10% of Colombia’s 2010-2014 Congress kicked out of office
Jul 21, 2014 posted by Daniel Medendorp Escobar
Of the 166 total house representatives and 102 senators (268 Congressmen in total), 32 did not finish their terms in Congress. Although three members of Congress passed away from natural causes, 29 were gotten rid of due to criminal activity, corruption, resignation or connections to illegal armed groups.
Ranging from reasons as diverse as paramilitary connections, FARC connections, involvement in scandals, and ignorance of certain rules, the legislators ranged from left to right on the political spectrum. Listed below are the Senators who were removed from office and the various reasons for their removal.
U Party (lost eight of 76 lawmakers)
The U Party of President Juan Manuel Santos, the biggest party in Congress lost eight of its congressmen over a wide range of scandals mostly related to influence peddling.
Luis Felipe Barrios
Barrios, a Representative from Bogota, was removed from Congress for conflict of interest, as he participated in a congressional vote as to whether or not he could change political parties shortly after his term began. Barrios was replaced by Luis Enrique Salas, who, only a year afterwards, was also removed from office.
Luis Enrique Salas
Salas, a Representative from Bogota, was the replacement for Luis Felipe Barrios. His removal was due to an investigation after his request for a large sum of money directed towards a group of people, using the church he was a pastor of as an excuse to obtain the money. He was replaced by Jose Gonzalez Gutierrez Triviño.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/10-congress-kicked-out/