Colombia candidate calls rival's paramilitary links claim a 'smokescreen'

Far-right presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has vehemently dismissed a criminal complaint filed by his leftist rival, Iván Cepeda, regarding alleged paramilitary ties. De la Espriella characterized Cepeda's move as a "smokescreen" intended to distract from his own alleged alliances with criminal elements involved in vote-buying.

In a social media post, de la Espriella accused Cepeda of engaging in "narco-politics" and forming alliances with criminals who allegedly influenced election results in the Cauca, Chocó, and Nariño regions. "Your reaction: denounce me for the only thing that comes out of your mouth, 'paraco.' Smokescreens: you've lost, Cepeda," de la Espriella stated, referencing the term often used for paramilitaries.

This exchange occurs just ten days before the presidential runoff election. Recent polling indicates de la Espriella holds a lead, with 52.2% of voter intention compared to Cepeda's 44.5%. In the first round on May 31, de la Espriella secured 10.3 million votes (43.78%), while Cepeda garnered 9.7 million (40.98%).

Cepeda announced his intention to file a criminal complaint against de la Espriella with the Attorney General's Office and the International Criminal Court. He alleges de la Espriella is involved in "aggravated conspiracy to commit crimes, financing terrorism, and illicit enrichment," linking him to paramilitary groups, specifically the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), which demobilized in 2006.

The right-wing Centro Democrático party, founded by former President Álvaro Uribe, criticized Cepeda's actions, suggesting he is resorting to familiar tactics of seeking witnesses and fabricating cases, similar to what they claim he did against Uribe. The party asserted that Cepeda is a "poor loser" employing the same playbook.