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🇭🇳 Honduras /Elections & Politics

Colombian Candidate Alleges Armed Groups Threaten Voters

From Proceso Digital · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella reported armed groups are threatening voters in Colombia's Cauca and Nariño regions.
  • He claims these groups are forcing voters to photograph ballots marked for his opponent to use as safe passage through illegal checkpoints.
  • De la Espriella, who leads in polls for the June 21 runoff, alleges these actions threaten democracy and electoral freedom.

Presidential hopeful Abelardo de la Espriella has accused illegal armed groups of threatening voters in Colombia's southwestern regions of Cauca and Nariño. De la Espriella, representing the far-right Defensores de la Patria movement, stated that these threats are aimed at his supporters as the campaign enters its final stretch before the June 21 runoff election.

What is happening in Nariño and Cauca constitutes a serious threat against democracy and electoral freedom. In more than 46 of the 64 municipalities in Nariño and in more than 36 of the 42 in Cauca, there is strong armed pressure from illegal groups on the population.

— Abelardo de la EspriellaDuring his campaign closing event in Buga, Valle del Cauca, detailing alleged threats to voters.

Speaking in Buga, Valle del Cauca, where he concluded his campaign, de la Espriella detailed the alleged intimidation. He asserted that in over 46 municipalities in Nariño and 36 in Cauca, armed groups are exerting significant pressure on the population. According to the candidate, these groups are demanding that citizens photograph their ballots marked for his leftist opponent, Iván Cepeda, who he refers to as the "heir of misgovernance and the FARC." These marked ballots, he claims, are then used as a "salvoconducto" or safe passage through illegal checkpoints.

the armed groups are demanding that citizens photograph their ballots marked for the heir of the FARC and the regime, Cepeda, to use that image as a safe-conduct pass at illegal checkpoints.

— Abelardo de la EspriellaExplaining the alleged intimidation tactics used by armed groups in Cauca and Nariño.

De la Espriella highlighted that these alleged threats coincide with areas that showed "atypical electoral results" in the first round on May 31. In these regions, Cepeda reportedly secured around 70% of the vote, reaching nearly 95% in some areas. De la Espriella currently holds a narrow lead in the polls for the second round, with recent surveys placing him at 48.6% compared to Cepeda's 44.7%. He framed his campaign as a "battle for the spirit" and a defense of "freedom, democracy, and institutionalism."

Today a people gathered here willing to defend the freedom, democracy, and institutionalism of Colombia. There is no more appropriate place to close this campaign than this blessed land, where faith meets hope and where hope becomes destiny.

— Abelardo de la EspriellaAt his campaign closing event in Buga.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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