Colombia's transition from Petro to De la Espriella sparks fraud claims, Belt‑Road exit

President Gustavo Petro's term ends on 7 August 2026, with right‑wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella set to assume the presidency. Petro has repeatedly alleged a massive electoral fraud, claiming the results were altered by about seven million votes and citing irregularities such as 1,350 polling stations with synchronized voting and 120,000 ballot actas lacking metadata. He warned that the incoming government could declare a state of internal commotion and called for a nationwide mobilisation, urging a general strike if he or members of his movement were prosecuted or imprisoned.

Former president Andrés Pastrana asked the Colombian Senate to block Petro’s departure from the country until the accusations are investigated, invoking article 196 of the constitution. Meanwhile, the incoming administration has signalled a sharp policy shift: U.S. ambassador‑designate Nate Morris confirmed De la Espriella’s commitment to withdraw Colombia from China’s Belt and Road (New Silk Road) initiative, reversing a memorandum signed by Petro in 2025.

The transition marks a move from a left‑wing government to a right‑wing one, with potential repercussions for domestic reforms, regional geopolitics and Colombia’s alignment with the United States versus China.