Gonzalez: found no irregularities in Colombian election
The European Union’s Electoral Observation Mission to Colombia has confirmed that no irregularities were found in the country’s recent presidential election, dismissing unsubstantiated claims of fraud by President Gustavo Petro. According to mission head Esteban González Pons, the vote count was conducted in a “transparent, orderly, and fluid” manner, with no evidence of data manipulation in either the quick count or the final tally. The mission conducted a random sample of tally sheets and cross-referenced them with physical ballots, finding no inconsistencies.
The first round of the election, held on May 31, saw a record voter turnout of 57.88%, with 23.98 million voters participating. The vote was described as the most closely monitored in Colombia’s recent history, with 1,300 international observers from 22 countries and 26 organizations deployed across the country. The National Registrar’s Office reported that 99.98% of voting tables reviewed by Monday night, with only a minimal variation of 0.06% from the preliminary results.
The election results showed Abelardo de la Espriella leading with 43.74% of the vote, followed by Iván Cepeda of the Historical Pact with 40.90%. A runoff is scheduled for June 21. While Cepeda initially questioned the results, he later stated that his party’s observers had not found irregularities of a sufficient dimension to speak of fraud.
Petro, who cannot seek re-election, has continued to allege irregularities, including the addition of 885,000 voters after the registration deadline. However, the National Registrar’s Office and international observers have not found evidence to support these claims. The EU mission emphasized that election results verified and certified by judges, not by the president.
Observers have warned that unsubstantiated claims of fraud could deepen political polarization and potentially lead to increased tensions ahead of the runoff. The election results reflect a broader trend of political polarization in Latin America, with voters gravitating toward ideological extremes.
