Ex-president’s arrest order could spell the end of Uribismo in Colombia

Arguably the most powerful politician in Colombia, former President Álvaro Uribe suffered a huge legal defeat on Tuesday, as the country’s Supreme Court ordered he be placed under house arrest as part of a case involving fraud and witness tampering. This marks the first time in Colombia’s history that a former president has been placed under arrest.

Mr. Uribe served as head of state between 2002 and 2010, but the scandal leading to Tuesday’s arrest order related to events in 2012, when the ex-president held a seat in the Senate.

Accused by fellow Senator Ivan Capeda of having links to far-right paramilitary groups, Mr. Uribe sued his colleague for defamation — a ploy that soon backfired. The Supreme Court threw out the former president’s plea and instead moved to investigate Mr. Uribe over allegations he had coerced potential witnesses who may have provided evidence against him. 

After months of investigations into these claims, Colombia’s highest court issued its historic decision.

Mr. Uribe pleads his innocence, tweeting that “the deprivation of my freedom causes...