Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Colombia high court approves plans for peace plebiscite

BOGOTA – Colombia’s top court has approved the government’s plans to hold a plebiscite on a peace deal with leftist rebels.

The ruling Monday by the constitutional Court hands a victory to President Juan Manuel Santos, who has vowed to put to a popular vote any accord reached with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to end a half-century of fighting.

That could be a political gamble, given Santos’ sagging approval ratings and Colombians’ mistrust of the rebels. But the court approved the government’s move to lower the turnout threshold to 13 per cent of the electorate for results to be valid, which the opposition criticized.

No date for a vote will be set until the government and FARC wrap up peace talks in Cuba.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.