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Colombia's presidential runoff election concluded with hard-right populist Abelardo de la Espriella defeating progressive candidate Ivan Cepeda by a margin of less than 1 percent, according to preliminary results Source: Al Jazeera. Cepeda conceded on Wednesday after verification showed the initial count was 99.997% accurate Source: Al Jazeera.
De la Espriella received 49.6% of the vote to Cepeda's 48.7% in the June 21 runoff Source: Politifact. The National Electoral Council formally declared de la Espriella president after judges verified the results Source: Politifact.
Cepeda's concession came despite fraud allegations from outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who claimed "electoral manipulation has been proven" and that President Donald Trump's endorsement of de la Espriella "nullifies the elections" Source: Al Jazeera. However, Cepeda struck a conciliatory tone, saying he accepted the result "as an act of democratic responsibility" Source: Al Jazeera. Political analysts see a schism between Petro and Cepeda, with Cepeda likely to lead the opposition Source: Al Jazeera.
Social media posts misleadingly contrasted Colombia's quick preliminary count with California's slow primary count, implying cheating. However, Colombia's election was simpler: a national runoff with only two candidates and no mail-in voting . California's June 2 primary involved multiple races and mail ballots, which take longer to process .
““How is it possible that the Colombians were able to count 99% of the votes in two hours and California still hasn’t finished counting the votes from three weeks ago?” an X user wrote June 21. “Oh, yeah… Colombia isn’t trying to cheat a result like California is.””
““I have decided to accept the result of this process, which indicates that Abelardo de la Espriella is the new president of the Republic,” said Cepeda in a livestreamed address on Wednesday.”
““Electoral manipulation has been proven; I cannot say for certain that what has been uncovered guarantees an electoral victory [for Cepeda], but it is a fact,” wrote Petro on Monday.”
“Comparing the Colombian election with an American election is like comparing a bicycle to a spaceship, said David Becker, Center for Election Innovation & Research executive director and founder.”
Petro pledges transition and peaceful resistance after election loss