Photo of the judges of the Constitutional Court holding hands with President Duque generated tremendous scandal

In recent hours, an image has been disseminated through social networks that is calling into question the independence of powers of the Constitutional Court. The photograph was published by W Radio and it features President Iván Duque, along with the President of the Court, Cristina Pardo and the judges Paola Meneses, Gloria Ortiz, Natalia Angel and Diana Fajardo.

In the image, which was apparently taken at the Casa de Nariño, the Colombian president and the magistrates are holding hands, resting them on each other. From different sectors, especially the opposition, it is pointed out that it is a “mistake” on the part of the country's executive and judiciary, especially in view of the recent statements of the president saying that after his term of office he would like to be a judge.

The snapshot that has generated all kinds of criticism, as explained by one of the magistrates that appears in it, was taken three weeks ago, in the middle of Natalia Ángel's possession. It was the same woman who made a series of trills explaining why the photograph was taken and responding to comments that questioned whether, in fact, the Constitutional Court remains independent of the national Government.

On Friday morning, Judge Angel explained that “the photo was taken on the day of my possession, which by law must be taken by the president” and acknowledged that it is an “unfortunate” and “taken out of context” image, but that it was a moment in which they followed the photographer's instructions.

Finally, he concluded his message by noting that he learned a lesson from the controversy caused, but also seized the moment to “invite them to evaluate the independence of the Court based on their judgments and not on (albeit unfortunate) photos taken out of context”.

Even so, criticism is maintained on social networks and from different sectors, pointing out that it can not only be a 'false out', but a danger to the development of national justice.

It should be recalled that, just a few days ago, it became known that Duque would already have a great aspiration by the end of his government and that would be to hold a position in the Constitutional Court. As journalist Daniel Coronel learned, the president would be looking favorably at a possible position as a judge of the Constitutional Court, this was announced by the journalist on W Radio. According to Coronell, after the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of this Court, Duque's cabinet decided to organize a dinner to which the judges of the Court and some members of the National Government would be invited, although not everyone attended this meal, if there was a large majority.

An aspiration on the part of Iván Duque that is surprising after his statements against the branch that approved abortion until the 24th week of pregnancy. After the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of decriminalizing abortion, Duque strongly lashed out against the institution of the judicial branch, and even questioned the decision taken by the magistrates who voted on that momentous decision that shook the country.

At the time, President Iván Duque stated that this fact could not depend on so few people, in relation to the subject, he said that “these are decisions of justice in its independence; legally I believe that the principle of res judicata was broken; and the Constitutional Court ruled in 2006. Today we talk about 24 weeks, a life with expectation of birth. 5 people cannot set guidelines on something so sensitive.”

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