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Colombia's Leftist Candidate Calls for Calm After Tight Election Loss
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Colombia's Leftist Candidate Calls for Calm After Tight Election Loss

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Leftist presidential candidate Iván Cepeda urged calm among his supporters following protests against the victory of right-wing candidate Abelardo De la Espriella.
  • Cepeda lost the election by less than one percentage point in a closely contested race.
  • Both candidates exchanged sharp words, with De la Espriella issuing a veiled threat and Cepeda rejecting any intimidation.

Following a razor-thin presidential election loss, leftist candidate Iván Cepeda has called for calm among his supporters amidst protests that erupted after the victory of right-wing lawyer Abelardo De la Espriella. The election, decided by less than one percentage point, saw De la Espriella, who styles himself "El Tigre," secure the presidency.

My call is to maintain calm and tranquility, because that is our character.

— Iván CepedaThe leftist presidential candidate urging his supporters to remain calm after the election results.

Protests flared in Bogotá and Cali, with demonstrators clashing with riot police and burning U.S. flags. Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator and human rights defender, addressed his followers, emphasizing the need for composure. "My call is to maintain calm and tranquility, because that is our character," he stated at a press conference, urging exemplary behavior.

Cepeda also strongly rejected what he termed "disrespectful" and "disobliging" remarks made by the president-elect. De la Espriella, addressing his supporters in Barranquilla, had issued a warning to Cepeda, stating, "Doctor Cepeda, you already know how hard the tiger bites. And I tell you something. The tiger can still bite harder than it has bitten at the polls."

Doctor Cepeda, you already know how hard the tiger bites. And I tell you something. The tiger can still bite harder than it has bitten at the polls.

— Abelardo De la EspriellaThe president-elect issuing a warning to his rival, Iván Cepeda.

Responding to this, Cepeda declared, "Do not threaten us. I tell you very clearly. We are, as I said yesterday in my speech, a very numerous political movement." He asserted his movement's resilience, noting their history of resistance against authoritarian governments and violent politicians. "So no, don't come threatening us, we are not scared, neither by your roars nor your shouts," Cepeda added, dismissing De la Espriella's aggressive rhetoric.

Do not threaten us. I tell you very clearly. We are, as I said yesterday in my speech, a very numerous political movement. So no, don't come threatening us, we are not scared, neither by your roars nor your shouts.

— Iván CepedaCepeda's response to De la Espriella's perceived threat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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