Colombia's president-elect suspends transition, alleges coup attempt
Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, suspended the transition with President Gustavo Petro and accused him of planning a coup to remain in power. In a video posted Tuesday, he said Petro and defeated coalition candidate Iván Cepeda had moved to “cling to power at all costs.”
The rupture followed Petro’s statement Monday that he would not recognize de la Espriella’s win in the June 21 run-off, alleging fraud without offering evidence. Petro’s own transition coordinator, Finance Minister Germán Ávila, then ordered the government’s side to suspend the handover as well — leaving both incoming and outgoing camps refusing to participate.
The handover is scheduled for August 7, and Petro has said he will leave office at the end of his term on August 6. The immediate risk is not that Petro overstays but that a contested, evidence-free fraud claim erodes confidence in the result and complicates an orderly transfer in a polarized country. Colombia’s electoral authorities have certified de la Espriella as the winner.