From President to Defendant: Uribe’s Guilty Verdict Reshapes Colombian Politics

Álvaro Uribe, once hailed for his leadership during Colombia’s internal conflicts, has now become the first former president in the nation’s history to be convicted of a crime. A virtual court delivered the guilty verdict for witness tampering on Monday.
The controversy started when Uribe accused Senator Iván Cepeda of conspiring against him by fabricating ties to paramilitary groups. The Supreme Court not only dismissed those charges but opened a new investigation into Uribe’s tactics.
That investigation led to accusations that Uribe manipulated imprisoned witnesses. One such witness admitted to being asked to modify his testimony. The court found this sufficient to convict Uribe.
The implications are profound: the ruling not only alters Uribe’s personal trajectory but could shift the balance of power in Colombian politics. His supporters have decried the verdict, while critics call it long-overdue justice.