Interview of María Isabel Rueda with Ernesto Macías, new President of the Senate – Congreso – Política

I see him very happy, despite the fact that he begins his post with the chicharroncito of the eventual resignation of former president Uribe. You have already received the letter …

Yes, indeed, I have the letter in my possession. And once the medical incapacity of President Uribe is fulfilled, we will give him the corresponding procedure. There were two ways to evacuate: one was directly through the Senate presidency, as has been done in the past in some cases; the other was to bring it to the plenary and put it to the vote, which is the path we will choose in this matter.

But then, is it possible that the inability of the former president to withdraw his resignation?

The same president Iván Duque and the caucus of the Democratic Center and other political sectors asked him to reconsider his decision to resign from the Senate. I hope that before beginning the process of his resignation, which will be to submit it to the plenary for approval or disapproval, he reconsidered his decision.

And what happens if it is not approved?

Well, if he's not approved, President Uribe will have to continue sitting in the Senate. He said he signed the resignation on a matter of personal dignity. That he does not feel well seated in a congressional seat, when we put him in a situation as complicated as this one and from which he has to defend himself with all the force.

There is not even unanimity at the Democratic Center itself, and opponents will be able to vote for Uribe to stay, because they regard it as a delicacy of future political debates, and because they think that they would leave him tied to the competition of Cut …

The reality is that he could not leave. In the democratic center, there are mixed feelings: no member of Congress wants to approve this resignation.

. Again from the bench and make a decision: if the request of President Uribe expressed in the letter is answered or if it is voted to stay.

Do you think that former President Uribe is confident that the case will leave the court to the prosecutor's office?

He is certain – he has told me many times and he has said so on his Twitter account – that the process continues in court even after a possible withdrawal. But of course, opponents will want to stay in Congress because they like to insult it, as the country has been able to appreciate in recent years.

Uribe has been a very active senator, he participates in the discussions of all the projects, he presents proposals, he even proposes solutions when there are discussions of these interminable ones. If it were to be withdrawn, Congress would be greatly needed.

For you in particular, what would it mean? When they put him in charge of this foal, there was Uribe to support him …

Quoting a phrase from President Uribe himself, "I have a crossroads in my soul". I like you very much There is the circumstance that today I am the President of Congress and as such, I will have to guide the decision made by the Senate.

I imagine that no member of the Democratic Center will vote against the true wishes of his boss …

It is likely that some senators will deviate from their wishes and choose another one. decision. I will seek unanimity in decisions, so that they do not hurt their own feelings and do not obey the reality we live.

I say it in another way: I see no possibility that if Uribe really wants to withdraw from Congress Because he deems it necessary, there is someone from his party who cross his path to prevent him from leaving.

At the time of the vote, people get carried away by their feelings. This is why the caucus decision must be unanimous.

Is it true that there is already a division between Duquismo and Uribismo in terms of management of the situation?

I do not think so. There are differences, different ways of thinking, but not that there is a duchy against uribism. The bench and the party recognize as their maximum leader and adviser to President Uribe, and today, as the party's natural leader, the elected President of the Republic, Iván Duque.

Do not you have this dichotomy expressed by the people of your party in the sense that the eternal direction is that of Uribe and that of the earth is that of Duque?

Personally no. I am clear that President Uribe will always remain an adviser. And in the case of President Iván Duque, even if it is true that some of us have arrived to promote his candidacy, today we all recognize him as the natural leader of the party according to the statutes . It is the young person who is called to be the relay in the party orientation.

To what extent are you, as President of the Congress, convinced that there will be no alliances paid with "jam?"

The election of boards of directors and congressional dignities in general is evidence that in Colombia, things can be done without "stuffing". In this coalition, we did not commit a single charge, a single contract, or a single favor on the part of the government. So that we can continue this exercise and move the legislative agenda forward.

What are you most afraid of in this legislative agenda?

Without doubt to the projects that will seek the modification and the adjustment of the Havana agreements; It will not be easy to move them forward.

But tax reform seems easier than the reforms of the agreement?

Yes, because the tax reform, first, seeks to reduce taxes, modernize the country 's tax system. I believe that Congress, advancing this reform, will claim the country, improve its image.

But senator, lower taxes yes, but of one modality: broaden the tax base so that the lowest wages pay even a little …

Let's wait to see what the project is structuring the economic team. But his backbone, as Ivan Duque explained during the campaign, is to reduce taxes and improve wages. Everything is clear from there.

Are you planning to introduce another project on August 7, such as pension reform? It's another of those hot potatoes that if they do not show up in the first 100 days of government, it probably will not be done in the next 4 years. That could not be in 8 …

President Duque said that of the seven reforms announced, three or four will go in the first days. The legislative package is being restructured and will soon announce its schedule in the country.

You will have to manage the first implementation of the opposition law. Decide how intervention times are distributed in the media. How will you do if the opposition does not agree?

They must be in agreement, the law is clear. To make this statement of opposition, independence or government, the parties have up to one month after the possession of the new government.

If the same August 7 has already been declared in the opposition, it will be necessary to give this opportunity to all those who have done so. Today, for example, I have the request of the Democratic Center, because today we are an opposition party and, as such, the party can use this new tool which gives us the status of opposition: a time equal to television to be pronounced and with the same guarantees as President Santos in his speech of July 20 before the Congress.

And what others are currently opposed besides you?

Surely the democratic pole, which was the opposition. The others are new, or have not chosen this option, like the "Greens" who were with the government, like the other parties.

In other words, the former president Uribe could have 20 minutes in the main media of the country, responding to the speech of President Santos?

It is possible, if he arrives at the congress, that he has a medical handicap; or if he does not, the caucus spokesperson or spokesperson, in this case Senator Paloma Valencia, will do so

What are the benefits of being a party? of opposition, to be independent or to be a government? It is better to be opposed than the government, because it will have means of communication, spaces and resources that guarantee the status of the opposition. Obviously declaring a government party allows the defense of its postulates, its projects and its initiatives.