02-03-2017: Latin American Weekly Report

The Colombian government led by President Juan Manuel Santos has announced two massive initiatives for politico-electoral and judicial reform to prepare the country for life after the implementation of the peace accords with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc). Among the most salient features of the proposed reforms are the end of re-election to any public post; combating corruption and the nefarious influence of illegal armed groups on local elections by providing exclusive state campaign financing; cutting the voting age from 18 to 16 in a bid to stimulate greater interest in politics among the younger generation; creating a system of coordinated justice, with a nationwide presence; and inculcating a culture of efficiency, efficacy and speed in the justice system, qualities which are presently more honoured in the breach than the observance.