(23 Mar 1996) Spanish/Nat
For the first time during the current Colombian political crisis, President Ernesto Samper has suggested the possibility of leaving office before his term ends.
Samper has said he was considering early elections, a referendum to decide his fate or a coalition government as ways to end the crisis.
But any solution will have to way until after Congress decides whether he is guilty of charges he accepted drug money to finance his presidential campaign.
Allegations that President Samper took money from the Cali drugs cartel have haunted him ever since he took office in August 1994.
The political scandals have also adversely affected Colombia's international image, prompting the United States to stop financing the fight against drug dealers in the country.
Samper says that the crisis has to end.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
As President of Colombia my priority is then to help finding ways to end the crisis that is affecting us. We need to take the path of normality again. We need to stop the dangers on our economy, to stop as well the deterioration of our international image and ensure the legality of our representative institutions. With all my respect, I disagree with those who think the national crisis would be solved by the president leaving nor do I think that my stepping down would make governability any easier.
SUPER CAPTION: Ernesto Samper, Colombian President
... And he offered possible solutions, although they will have to wait.
SOUNDBITE:
A shortening of the presidential mandate, without affecting of course that of the Congress, offers a different timetable to fight against the effects of the crisis, from a perfectly possible constitutional reform. The referendum would enable to judge my own performance by the citizens, not being thus further doubts about the willingness of the Colombian people to support our social projects. These or other ways that can be found and analysed must have a common denominator: they must be feasible, within the constitution and democratic, and any of them could only be started after the House of Representatives has made the decision.
SUPER CAPTION: Ernesto Samper, Colombian President
If the House of Representatives finds Samper guilty, the President will have to step down while the Senate decides whether to impeach him.
Samper says if drugs money did finance his campaign, he didn't know about it.
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