Colombian Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Senator Uribe

The Supreme Administrative Court of Colombia has dismissed a lawsuit brought by two unions against conservative senator Miguel Uribe Turbey. This decision was announced on Friday morning.

The unions aimed to hold Uribe accountable, arguing that the political rally where he was shot was “illegal.”

While specific details on the grounds for the court’s decision were not disclosed at the time, a notice confirming the dismissal will be available on the court’s official website, signed by Judge Luis Alberto Alvarez Pala, who presides over the council.

Sen. Uribe, who is 39 and a member of the Democratic Centre Party, is eyeing the presidency in the upcoming election. He was shot by a teenager during a campaign event in Bogotá on June 7, sustaining two gunshot wounds to his skull and one to his left leg. Since that incident, he has been in critical condition, receiving care at the Santa Fe Foundation’s Intensive Care Unit.

An update from the Santa Fe Foundation—issued on Tuesday—indicated that Uribe has entered a “subacute stage” after over 16 days following the attack. The facility has been closely monitoring his health, particularly due to his recent tracheostomy and stomach surgery related to his serious condition. Although there’s been some progress, the foundation characterized Uribe’s state as serious and emphasized that his neurological prognosis remains uncertain. They will provide further updates if there are significant changes in his condition.

On Thursday, Carlos Sanchez, leader of the Colombian Workers’ Union, filed this lawsuit along with others from the Colombian Trade Union (UTC) and the Singselgen coalition. They called for Uribe’s removal from office, claiming he organized the event that led to the attack and misused his legislative position for this purpose.

Reportedly, Uribe defended his actions by stating he was engaged in “conversion and pre-campaign activities” on the day he was shot, even though the official presidential campaign for 2026 hadn’t yet begun.

The lawsuit further alleged that the rally was an act of misconduct, contributing to the assassination attempt, and even suggested that his status as a senator didn’t exempt him from responsibility.

The document cited evidence, such as photos and testimonies, claiming that Uribe leveraged his position to gain undue political advantage for his electoral ambitions, exposing himself to risks due to the alleged illegal activities associated with the event.

The Democratic Centre Party expressed its disapproval of the lawsuit on Thursday, calling the accusations against Uribe “reckless” and highlighting the gravity of the situation following an attempted assassination. They underscored the importance of protecting Uribe’s life and stated that Colombia must not allow violence and hatred to triumph over truth and democracy.

They further argued that the plaintiffs’ claims were not only absurd but also a misuse of justice designed to justify violent acts against Uribe. It was stated that attempts to exploit a moment of vulnerability can only be viewed as an attack on his character and the values he represents.

Condemnation of the lawsuit has also come from various Colombian politicians and unions. Aservidem, another Defense Ministry Union, stated that the legal action was baseless and indicated a significant lack of sensitivity and solidarity with Uribe.

Carlos Sanchez spoke to a local magazine, expressing no regret for filing the lawsuit, adding that it was part of their role to respond to political issues like this one. He mentioned a perceived double standard in media coverage of the incident compared to violence committed against social leaders and other public figures.