Colombia Presidential Race Too Close to Call; Borders Closed Early

Colombia's presidential election is heading for a nail-biting finish, with unofficial "reconteo" results indicating a razor-thin margin between the two candidates. Abelardo de la Espriella, described as a "trumpian" candidate, holds a slight lead over his left-wing opponent, Iván Cepeda. The preliminary count shows De la Espriella with 49.68% of the vote compared to Cepeda's 48.67%.

These figures, provided by "reconteo" – a system where poll presidents report results by phone – are considered highly reliable but carry a margin of error of one percent. The current difference between the two candidates falls precisely within this margin, making an official scrutiny essential to determine the definitive winner. The outcome remains uncertain until the final official tally is released.

In an effort to ensure the integrity and transparency of the runoff election, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the early closure of the country's borders. The border with Venezuela, and others, were shut down 12 hours ahead of the initially planned time. This measure aimed to prevent any potential external interference or the movement of voters from neighboring countries that could compromise the electoral process.

The land and river border crossings were scheduled to remain closed until Monday morning. Electoral authorities stated that this decision was crucial to preempt risks related to security and to guarantee that the presidential runoff would proceed without external interference and with full transparency. The main border crossings are with Venezuela and Ecuador, while borders with Brazil, Panama, and Peru are largely jungle territories with limited state control.