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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002146 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER CO
SUBJECT: URIBE CONTINUES DRIVE FOR POLITICAL REFORM 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
Government Coalition Signs "Transparency Pact" 
============================================= == 
 
¶1. (C) On March 28, President Alvaro Uribe hosted eleven 
political party leaders from his Congressional coalition to 
sign a "transparency pact" promising maximum efforts to 
guarantee free and fair local elections in 
October--opposition parties did not participate.  Party 
leaders from the U Party, Conservatives, Cambio Radical and 
eight smaller coalition parties agreed to vet all candidates 
for ties to armed or criminal groups, publicize all campaign 
contributions on the internet, reject all suspicious funds, 
and report any suspicious activities to authorities.  The GOC 
invited opposition party leaders (Liberals and POLO) to sign 
the document, but they did not do so.  Liberal Party leader 
Cesar Gaviria called the pact political theater; the GOC 
invited them to sign without giving them a chance to 
participate in drafting the document or reviewing its 
contents.  Other opposition contacts told us the pact was 
devoid of new legal commitments, but said they would likely 
take a similar step.  Copy of pact will to be faxed to 
WHA/AND. 
 
Uribe Proposes Electoral Reform Legislation 
=========================================== 
 
¶2. (C) The Uribe Administration and congressional coalition 
will also introduce an election reform bill immediately after 
Easter designed to eliminate the influence of armed groups in 
elections.  In addition to expelling from office any elected 
official formally charged with ties to armed or criminal 
groups, the bill states that the accused official's party 
would immediately lose that seat and be prohibited from 
contesting the seat in the next election.  Candidates 
expelled from a party for cause would be prevented from 
running on another party's slate for one election cycle.  The 
bill would also empower electoral authorities to reject 
candidates who are potentially ineligible to run before they 
start campaigning rather than after they have been elected. 
Senator German Vargas Lleras (leader of Cambio Radical and 
likely 2010 presidential candidate) is coordinating 
sponsorship of the bill.  The GOC's goal is to pass the bill 
before the October elections.   Numerous contacts told us 
passage of the bill in time for October would be difficult. 
 
 
Broad Political Reforms on Hold...for Now 
========================================= 
 
¶3.  (C) Presidential Legal Advisor Mauricio Gonzalez told us 
the GOC introduced the transparency pact and electoral reform 
bill in an effort to limit illegal armed groups' interference 
in the October elections, as well as fraud.  He said 
President Uribe and his cabinet also reviewed a possible 
political/constitutional reform package on March 27, but 
decided not to pursue that option at this time.  Potential 
elements of such a package could include a shift to a 
parliamentary system, creation of a unicameral congress, 
institution of regional rather than national districts for 
senators, and requirements that political parties run 
candidates on "closed" party lists.  Gonzalez said Uribe did 
not approve such a major reform package now, because he fears 
it could undermine the GOC position that Colombia's 
institutions are capable of managing the para-political 
scandal.  Still, he predicted the para-political scandal in 
Congress would grow, further discrediting Congress and 
eventually forcing Uribe to advocate far-reaching reforms. 
Drucker