European Union Mission dismisses claims of fraud in Colombia presidential election
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- The European Union’s Electoral Observation Mission in Colombia rejected President Gustavo Petro’s fraud claims in the recent presidential election, affirming the vote count was transparent and orderly.
- None of the 12 candidates reported irregularities to the EU mission, and a runoff is scheduled for June 21 between Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda.
- Petro accused, without evidence, that 885,000 voters were illegally added after the registration deadline, while Colombia’s National Registrars Office found only minimal discrepancies in vote counts.
- Iván Cepeda, Petro’s party candidate, initially questioned quick count results but later acknowledged no significant irregularities were found by his party’s monitors.
- Observers warn that Petro’s unproven fraud allegations risk increasing political polarization and violence ahead of the upcoming runoff election.