Petro enters final month of term clashing with successor he refuses to recognize
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro has entered the final month of his term, openly clashing with his successor, Abelardo de la Espriella.
- Petro claims the June 21 election victory was achieved through
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has entered the final month of his term amid a significant institutional crisis, openly clashing with his successor, Abelardo de la Espriella, whom he refuses to recognize.
Who won the elections by popular vote was Ivรกn Cepeda, Abelardo's triumph was made with algorithms from California and the algorithms were made by private intelligence companies from Israel.
Petro, the country's first leftist president, asserted on social media that the election victory was not legitimate, alleging fraud orchestrated with "algorithms from California" by Israeli private intelligence firms. He stated that his successor's triumph was not achieved through popular vote but through manipulation.
The handover of government continues... the government ends on August sixth at 12 at night, because that was the mandate of the people.
This dispute has escalated tensions, leading to the suspension of transition talks between the outgoing and incoming administrations. Petro declared that his government would "only adjust to the law in the handover of government" and that the true transition process is "with the people." He has called for a public mobilization on July 20, Independence Day, to rally support for his social reforms, stating that August 6 and 7 are "tragic dates."
They ask me for things that would be unconstitutional like remaining in power knowing that those who are coming did not win the elections. I will not do it because the popular mandate granted to me has an end.
Despite his refusal to acknowledge De la Espriella's legitimacy, Petro confirmed he would hand over power on August 6 at midnight, adhering to the constitutional mandate. However, he indicated his party, Pacto Histรณrico, would file a lawsuit to nullify the election results. De la Espriella, in response, accused Petro of orchestrating a "coup d'รฉtat" and urged the military to maintain constitutional order.
Petro and Cepeda initiated a coup d'รฉtat.
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.