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Machado calls on Colombia to vote with 'full consciousness' for democracy's future
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Machado calls on Colombia to vote with 'full consciousness' for democracy's future

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado urged Colombians to vote consciously for their country's democratic future.
  • Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, warned against the loss of the right to choose leaders freely.
  • The election is a runoff between Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda, with polls favoring de la Espriella.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has called on Colombians to cast their votes with "full consciousness" for the future of democracy in their nation. As Colombians head to the polls to elect a successor to President Gustavo Petro, Machado emphasized the historic opportunity voters have to reaffirm their desired future of freedom and democracy.

Dear Colombians, today you have a historic opportunity to reaffirm, through the vote, the future of democracy and freedom that you desire for your country and for your children.

— María Corina MachadoMachado's appeal to Colombian voters ahead of the election.

Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, shared her message on X, formerly Twitter. She cautioned that many nations only realize the value of free elections too late, often after the right to choose their leaders has been taken away. She stressed that regaining such a right can involve long struggles and even the sacrifice of life.

"Vote today with full consciousness of the opportunity you have and the responsibility that comes with living in a democracy. Do so also with joy, hope, and conviction. Long live free Venezuela and Colombia," Machado concluded. The election pits far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella against leftist Iván Cepeda. Polls indicate de la Espriella, who has the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, is leading.

Many peoples discover too late the value of being able to freely choose their rulers, when that right is taken away from them.

— María Corina MachadoMachado's warning about the fragility of democratic rights.

Colombian voters are choosing between de la Espriella, nicknamed 'El Tigre' by his supporters, and Cepeda, an ally of the current president within the Pacto Histórico party. In the first round on May 31, de la Espriella secured 10.3 million votes (43.78%), while Cepeda received 9.7 million (40.98%). Voter turnout in the first round was 57.88%. Polling stations opened at 8:00 AM local time and will remain open for eight hours.

Vote today with full consciousness of the opportunity you have and the responsibility that represents living in democracy. Do so also with joy, hope, and conviction. Long live free Venezuela and Colombia.

— María Corina MachadoMachado's concluding remarks to Colombian voters.
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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