MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Colombian president said his gov. doesn't buy consciences

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said on Monday that his government “doesn't buy consciences”. Uribe was responding to reporters' questions about a scandal involving a former Congresswoman Yidis Medina who claims that in return for political favors she voted for a measure in 2004 that enabled the president's reelection.

Medina turned herself in to law enforcement authorities on Sunday night after Colombia's Supreme Court ordered her arrest. She was being questioned by investigators on Monday. Uribe reminded reporters on Monday that Medina swore four years ago in a separate investigation that she received no favors in return for her vote. In an interview broadcast last weekend but recorded nearly four years ago, Yidis Medina says she was promised political favors in return for voting for a bill that allowed Uribe to run for re-election in 2006. Medina described herself as the swing vote on the measure, which passed 18 to 16. Prosecutors say the Colombian Supreme Court ordered Medina's arrest on Friday. In the interview, Medina said two top Uribe allies, including former interior minister Sabas Pretelt, offered three regional positions and a diplomatic post for her associates. She said Uribe called her afterward to thank her and to confirm that "what was agreed upon would be done". Pretelt, who is currently Colombia's ambassador in Italy, denies the accusation. Just before the Aug. 8, 2004 interview was broadcast by Noticiero Unio last week, the government accused journalist Daniel Coronell of manipulating the interview and asked prosecutors to investigate. "The intent of the video was to obtain benefits and favors from the government for the lawmaker, pretending that her vote was bought" the president's office said. Coronell said he'd reached an agreement with Medina when the interview was recorded that he wouldn't broadcast it unless something happened to her or if the government wasn't "serious in its promises". In a magazine column last week, Coronell said he decided to make the video public after Medina told him that the Uribe administration hadn't held up its part of the deal.