Colombia Senate debates voting rights for active forces; Guatemala veterans push pension reforms

The Colombian Senate is set to consider a constitutional amendment that would allow active members of the military and National Police to vote in elections. The proposal, introduced by Senator Germán Rodríguez of the Salvación Nacional party, seeks to modify article 219 of the Constitution and would be referred to the Senate’s First Constitutional Commission. While it would grant voting rights, the draft maintains a ban on uniformed personnel participating in party debates, militias, or public activism. Previous attempts to extend the vote to the armed forces have failed.

In Guatemala, a group of former combatants gathered outside the Congress to demand the passage of initiatives 6565 and 6623, which aim to reform the country’s passive‑class and disability laws for military veterans. The measures would raise pensions to at least Q2,000 and provide an annual bonus of Q500 for widows, orphans and disabled veterans. Recent legislation already extended a Q36,000 payment to eligible ex‑combatants, but the veterans say further reforms are needed to address pension gaps and benefits for those who served during the armed conflict.