Colombia: Pacto Histórico files lawsuit to nullify President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella's victory

In the runoff of June 21, 2026, conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella was declared winner with 49.66% of the vote, defeating left‑wing senator Iván Cepeda. President Gustavo Petro, who lost the election, refused to recognize the result, alleging foreign interference and irregularities in the electronic tabulation. Backed by Petro, the ruling coalition Pacto Histórico announced it will file a petition for annulment before Colombia’s Council of State, seeking to suspend De la Espriella’s inauguration scheduled for August 7.

Congresswoman Catherine Juvinao of the Alianza Verde publicly denounced Cepeda as a “puppet of Petro,” while other members of the Pacto Histórico pledged to present new digital‑forensic evidence in court. International observers, including the European Union and the Carter Center, reported that the vote counting was transparent and trustworthy. The dispute has heightened political tensions, with analysts warning of possible protests and a constitutional crisis as the country’s institutional stability hangs in the balance.