Colombia's Vice President German Vargas LLeras delivers his annual report to President Juan Manuel Santos during a ceremony in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday, March, 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
March 16, 2017 - 7:48 AM
BOGOTA - Colombian Vice-President German Vargas Lleras has offered his resignation amid speculation he'll seek the country's top office in next year's election.
Vargas Lleras delivered a letter to Congress Wednesday night asking lawmakers to relieve him of his duties. A vote is expected next week. Sitting officials must resign by May in order to be eligible to run in the May 2018 election.
Polls show the famously hot-tempered politician is one of the front-runners to succeed President Juan Manuel Santos after having overseen the biggest infrastructure buildout in decades.
But he's mistrusted by many of Santos' supporters and being courted by some right-wing opponents because of his lukewarm support for a peace deal with leftist rebels.
Santos has already tapped former police chief Oscar Naranjo to replace Vargas Lleras.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017