Inhabilidades electorales para cargos de elección popular

Abstract

This research project aims to make a contribution from legal dogmatics regarding the concept of electoral disqualifications in Colombia. To achieve this, it was necessary to investigate the history and theoretical framework of disqualifications and political rights. It is crucial to understand that these types of rights have different limitations on their exercise. For example, legal concepts like disqualifications condition and impose restrictions on those who seek to be elected by popular vote. Within this context, the fundamental principles accompanying the democratic rule of law were explained, such as the separation of powers, the principle of legality, and the democratic principle. These principles are essential to ensure the imposition of limits on power, the stability of political rights, and the establishment of electoral disqualifications.

Additionally, this text contains an analysis of the purpose of disqualifications and the need for their existence to ensure the stability of the State, the prevalence of the general interest, and the requirement that individuals occupying positions of popular election be morally accepted and possess high standards of suitability and integrity for the exercise of public office. Furthermore, this research project presents arguments regarding the way in which disqualifications are prescribed in Colombian territory, explaining each electoral disqualification cause, both common and specific, as prescribed in the Political Constitution and the different laws containing disqualifications for those aspiring to be mayors, governors, councilors, deputies, and congressmen.

Finally, to complement the research and gain a clearer understanding of how disqualifications are structured in Colombia, it was necessary to study the powers of judicial authorities to protect political rights through procedures such as loss of investiture or electoral nullity. In this context, additional arguments were presented regarding the powers of administrative authorities to restrict political rights, as these have been heavily criticized for not respecting the mandates of international content from the American Convention on Human Rights and decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.