The European Union's Electoral Observation Mission to Colombia has dismissed President Gustavo Petro's claims of fraud in Sunday's presidential election, describing the vote count as transparent, orderly, and fluid. Mission chief Esteban Gonzalez Pons stated that none of the 12 candidates reported irregularities to the mission.
Election Results and Runoff
A second round of voting is scheduled for June 21 between lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and Senator Ivan Cepeda, who received the most votes. Cepeda, representing Petro's Historical Pact party, initially refused to acknowledge the quick count placing him second, awaiting a more detailed tally overseen by judges and notaries.
Official results show de la Espriella with 43.7 percent and Cepeda with 40.9 percent of over 23 million votes cast.
Petro's Allegations
Petro, who cannot seek reelection, claimed on X that 800,000 voters were illegally added to rolls. He later alleged 885,000 voters registered after the March 31 deadline, without providing evidence. He also cited voting tables with unusually high ballot counts.
The National Registrars Office reported that by Monday night, 99.98 percent of voting tables were reviewed, showing a minimal 0.06 percent variation from the quick count.
EU Mission Findings
The EU mission selected random tally sheets nationwide and compared them to physical ballots, finding no inconsistencies. We can discard any manipulation of data in the quick count and in the final count, Gonzalez Pons said.
Under Colombian law, election results are verified by judges within two weeks. Observers warn that Petro's unsubstantiated claims could polarize the political climate and stoke violence ahead of the June 21 runoff.
