Colombia’s president-elect suspends transition after outgoing leader Petro’s fraud claims

Colombia’s president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella on Tuesday suspended the transition process with President Gustavo Petro and accused him of planning a coup to stay in power, after the outgoing leader refused to recognise results of the country’s election.

Petro said on Monday that he refused to recognise de la Espriella’s victory in the June 21 presidential run-off election over the Petro coalition’s candidate Senator Ivan Cepeda, alleging fraud without providing evidence.

The conservative, Trump-endorsed de la Espriella said in a video posted on Tuesday on social media that Petro and Cepeda had launched a plan to “cling to power at all costs” through “a coup d’état” by refusing to recognise his victory. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation, and Petro did not immediately respond to it.

“As president-elect, I call on Colombia’s armed forces to honour their oath to protect the Constitution and democracy and to disobey any orders from Petro to the contrary,” de la Espriella said.

He also called on the international community to monitor the transfer of power and urged his supporters to “resist” until his inauguration on August 7.

The presidential transition, known in Colombia as “empalme,” in which the outgoing administration provides the president-elect with the information to prepare for governing, has been marked by mutual accusations between political rivals Petro and de la Espriella.