{"id":2874,"date":"2026-06-22T04:08:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T04:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2874"},"modified":"2026-06-22T04:08:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T04:08:36","slug":"election-in-colombia-ivan-cepeda-reacts-to-not-official-or-binding-preliminary-vote-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2874","title":{"rendered":"Election in Colombia: Iv\u00e1n Cepeda reacts to \u2018not official or binding\u2019 preliminary vote count"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BOGOT\u00c1, Colombia \u2014 During a speech on Sunday night in Bogot\u00e1, Colombian presidential candidate Iv\u00e1n Cepeda said the preliminary vote count result was \u201cnot official or binding\u201d and vowed \u201cto challenge\u201d it. <\/p>\n

Read more Historic day for Colombians: Trump-backed De la Espriella heads for narrow presidential win<\/a><\/p>\n

With 99.99% of the precincts counted, 48.7% of the votes were for Cepeda and 49.66% were for Cepeda\u2019s right-wing opponent, Abelardo de la Espriella, according to the Colombian National Registry.<\/p>\n

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whose four-year term ends on Aug. 7, also contested the election results. <\/p>\n

\u201cNeither can be proclaimed president. It is the scrutiny that determines who is the president. I obey the judges. Calm among the citizenry, please,\u201d Petro wrote on X. \u201cReality gives us a country split down the middle, and foreign interference taking away our freedom. A National Agreement is imposed if we want to maintain the Homeland and peace in the years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Bogot\u00e1, Edwin Dario Camacho, of The Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean, was concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe message must always be one of unity \u2014 that once election day is over, the result must be respected,” Camacho said in Spanish. <\/p>\n

Sergio Fajardo, a former mayor of Medellin and a former presidential candidate, released a statement recognizing De La Espriella as the new president-elect.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe voting outcome makes clear an indisputable reality: Colombia is deeply divided. Recognizing and accepting this reality is the first great responsibility of the president-elect,\u201d Fajardo wrote on X. \u201cThis is the moment for leaders\u2019 serenity, starting with President Petro, to call for common sense and prevent the division from turning into violence. It is also our collective responsibility to disarm spirits. The path to reconciliation must begin tonight.\u201d <\/p>\n

Read more Historic day for Colombians: De la Espriella moves ahead of Cepeda in close race<\/a><\/p>\n

Cepeda, 63, a senator and human rights advocate, campaigned as the candidate who wants to protect the environment, continue negotiations for the surrender of armed groups, and prioritize welfare programs. <\/p>\n

De La Espriella, 47, a defense attorney and businessman who campaigned as \u201cThe Tiger\u201d with the endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump, declared his victory on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Rosalina Prieto, who lives in Bogot\u00e1, said she voted for Cepeda because De La Priella is an outsider. Victor Hernandez, who also lives in Bogot\u00e1, said he voted for De La Espriella because he wants subsidies to end.<\/p>\n

As the law-and-order candidate, De la Espriella said he wants to open mega prisons, cut corporate taxes, restart oil exploration and fracking, and cut the spending on the government\u2019s social programs. <\/p>\n

\u201cToday, democracy wins,\u201d De La Espriella told reporters in Spanish after he voted in Barranquilla.<\/p>\n

More than 41 million Colombians were eligible to vote, and over 26 million cast their ballots on Sunday, according to the Colombian registry\u2019s data on the election results. <\/p>\n

During the presidential election\u2019s first round on May 31, De la Espriella had 43.73% of the votes, and Cepeda had 40.91% of the votes. About 70% of the voters in the U.S. chose De La Espriella then.<\/p>\n

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Related reporting<\/b><\/p>\n