Meanwhile, ex-president Álvaro Uribe has been convicted of abuse of process and bribery of a public official by a Colombian judge. This decision follows an arduous litigation process that has taken more than 13 years. Closer to home, this ruling constitutes a historic victory for Colombia. Uribe is now the first former Colombian president ever to be convicted at trial. The conviction stems from Uribe’s alleged efforts to pressure witnesses into altering their testimonies. This charge has captured the imagination of followers both domestically and internationally.
Uribe was president of Colombia from 2002 to 2010. While he was in office, he developed a warm and personal rapport with the United States. His administration was characterized by executing aerial bombardment tactics previously used by the military to repurpose strategies against leftist guerrilla groups. Given the new conviction, advocates are understandably worried about possible negative spillover effects on U.S.-Colombia ties. A representative from Banco de Bogota stated, “A decision against the ex-president could generate some kind of reprisal by the government of the United States.”
The case against Uribe has grown over the years into a legal crusade, with investigations spreading to include many of Uribe’s allies and proteges. These men have now all become ones to watch as candidates in the next presidential race in 2026, eager to join their political patron and continue Uribe’s political legacy. Uribe wields tremendous power in Colombian politics. He leads the Democratic Center party and has served as a democratic senator in Colombia both during and after his presidency.
Uribe’s legal team, headed by attorney Juan Felipe Amaya, has said it will appeal against the ruling. Throughout the course of that investigation, the case against him has been highly controversial, attracting strong feelings from a wide range of stakeholders. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the judicial process, asserting, “Uribe’s only crime has been to tirelessly fight and defend his homeland. The weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges has now set a worrisome precedent.”
The trial has not only highlighted Uribe’s contentious political history but exposed the ongoing challenges within Colombia’s judicial system. Sandra Liliana Heredia, the star of the case, talked about the significance of the verdict. She delivered a fierce rebuke, proclaiming, “Justice does not bend the knee to those in power.” She further emphasized the importance of this ruling for Colombia, declaring, “We want to say to Colombia that justice has arrived.”
At 73, Uribe remains a key player in Colombian politics. As for the legal challenges he has already endured, including a two-month house arrest that ended in August 2020, which has not shaken his resolve. It is unclear how impactful he will be given that conviction and what it may mean for his party and its supporters in a broader context.
As this appeal process is about to unfold, the impact of this ruling will undoubtedly echo across Colombia. Observers will closely monitor how this conviction affects Uribe’s allies as they campaign for the upcoming presidential election and whether it alters public perception of his legacy.
