DEPARTMENT OF STATE
GIST: COLOMBIA: Senate Rejects President Lleras Restrepo's Resignation
INR BRIEFING NOTE
TO: ●
DATE: June 12, 1968
The Director, INR
TIME: morning briefing
COMMENTS CONTAINED IN INR BRIEFING NOTES ARE INITIAL AND TENTATIVE.
SOURCE(S)
Bogota 4280
6/12/68
FBIS 27
Bogota Radio Cadena Nacional
0903Z BJ/JB
FBIS 25
AFP LIMA 0539
FBIS 17
FYI p/X
CLASS./CONTROL(S)
Uncas.
Uncas.
OUO
Bogota Radio Cadena Nacional broadcast the Senate session considering Pres. Carlos Lleras Restrepo's resignation. A motion to accept Lleras' resignation was defeated 74 - 31. A subsequent motion to effect resignation be rejected was passed by same vote.
In his speech to the nation preceding the vote Lleras blamed 5 or 6 Liberal Senators (he is a Liberal) for causing the crisis and asserted that Senate would have to pass constitutional reform measures if it rejected his resignation. He said the GOC would not tolerate any violence.
Mass rally in favor of Lleras only drew about 25,000 - 30,000 instead of the 100,000 sought. Bogota was excited, there was some violence and 25 people reportedly were arrested.
Some Liberal Senators said they would support Lleras but still insist on freedom to vote as they pleased on reform provisions which are the point of the crisis.
INR Comment: Lleras has succeeded in demonstrating that he has substantial popular support, but the Senate by considering his resignation apart from the substantive issues which prompted it has retained a measure of independence. However, should the Senate vote down some of the reforms, it is possible that Lleras would resign -- turning the government over to Presidential Designate and Amb. to the UN Cesar TURBAY Ayala. However, it looks now like Lleras will get his reforms.
INR OFFICE
BRIEFER
EXTENSION
● RAR
Watson
4976
FORM DS-1118
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