Colombia faces US congressional criticism over election interference amid domestic push for stronger institutional overs

A group of about twenty U.S. Democratic lawmakers, led by Representative Jim McGovern, issued a statement condemning former President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials for attempting to influence Colombia's presidential runoff. The statement stressed that “the future of Colombia must be decided solely by the Colombian people” and warned that such interference undermines democratic sovereignty. The runoff will pit ultraconservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella against progressive Iván Cepeda on 21 June.

Separately, Colombia’s Procuraduría General organized an International Summit of Autonomous Institutions and Control, bringing together magistrates, judges and international experts. Participants warned that political polarization, disinformation and digital platforms threaten the mechanisms that keep power in check. They called for stronger oversight bodies, protection of judicial independence and new tools to monitor the digital sphere, emphasizing that limits on power are essential for the rule of law.

Both events highlight growing concerns over external influence and internal checks on authority within Colombia's democratic system.