US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10686

UNCLAS BOGOTA 010686 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, CO 
SUBJECT: COURT APPROVES ELECTORAL GUARANTEES LAW; NO 
HURDLES REMAIN TO URIBE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY 
 
REF: A. BOGOTA 10497 
 
     B. BOGOTA 9896 
     C. BOGOTA 4467 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for Internet distribution. 
 
1.  (U) Summary:  As expected, the Constitutional Court 
approved the electoral guarantees law, the final remaining 
legal hurdle to President Uribe's running in the May 28, 2006 
presidential election.  The Court made some changes to the 
original law, toughening campaign finance rules and limiting 
the incumbent's use of public television and institutional 
resources.  Uribe must register his candidacy by November 28. 
 End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) The Court approved the electoral guarantees law 
November 11, which sets out "rules of the game" for 
incumbents seeking second terms.  It made several 
modifications to the law, cognizant of Constitutional wording 
calling for equality of political opportunity for all parties 
and individuals.  The most important elements of the law are 
(see also Ref C, which provided an overview of federal 
electoral issues): 
 
--GOC employees may join political parties but may not 
participate in campaign activities; 
--A challenger is to be given free media "response" time if 
the National Electoral Council determines that the incumbent 
made a derogatory statement about the challenger; 
--Individuals alone may make campaign contributions; 
corporations and other legal entities may not; 
--The overall campaign spending limit for challengers is 
approximately USD $6.2 million; for an incumbent, 
approximately USD $ 4.4 million; and 
--As of November 28, the President's weekly community council 
meetings may not be televised and partisan events/activities 
may not take place in the Presidential Palace, Casa Narino. 
 
3.  (SBU) Comment:  While Uribe has not formally announced 
his intention to run, he is all but certain to do so.  He 
will be the odds-on favorite.  Opposition reaction to this 
latest Court ruling was positive but relatively muted. 
DRUCKER