Petro denounces "many irregularities" in tight vote where De la Espriella leads

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has alleged "many irregularities" in the tightly contested presidential election, with preliminary results showing far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly leading over the government's candidate, Iván Cepeda. Petro declared on social media that polling stations lacking juror signatures must be immediately challenged, emphasizing that the election outcome remains uncertain.

According to preliminary counts with 99.65% of votes tallied, De la Espriella secured 49.65% of the vote, while Cepeda garnered 48.70%. Petro insisted that the election authority, the Registraduría, is uploading electoral forms without the required signatures. He stressed that the close vote, with neither candidate reaching the 50% threshold, necessitates waiting for the official scrutiny process.

Petro also referenced foreign interference, pointing to support for De la Espriella from the presidents of the United States and Argentina. He called for a "national agreement" to ensure peace and stability in the coming years, reflecting a country divided by the election results.

Colombian authorities reported the arrest of three individuals for electoral misconduct. These included an attempt to impersonate an electoral witness, an attempt to vote for another person, and the destruction of a ballot box. The Attorney General's office also noted that 31 other individuals were arrested on existing warrants for various crimes. The Public Ministry received 521 complaints related to potential irregularities during the election day.