Colombian President Unveils Constitutional Reform Proposal

Edited by Juan Leandro
2014-06-17 15:02:39

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Bogotá, June 17 (RHC-XINHUA) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced Monday that he would submit to Congress a constitutional reform plan that includes a ban on presidential re-election in exchange for an extended office term.

"We will present a series of reforms including the elimination of re-election and the extension of the presidential term," Santos told a news conference.

Santos said the constitutional reform will be presented to the new Congress which will first convene on July 20, for approval.

Santos was re-elected for a second four-year term and will be inaugurated on Aug. 7. He reform plans seeks to extend the presidential term by one or two years.

At the news conference, Santos pledged to continue the peace negotiations with the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). He also expressed the hope that possible peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group will also be launched.

He asked for international support and invited his rivals in the presidential race to support the peace negotiations.

Santos initiated negotiations with FARC in November 2012 in a bid to end the 50-year-old conflict in Colombia. The president said Wednesday that his government was exploring the possibility of launching peace talks with the ELN.



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