EU Election Observation Mission denies armed group interference in Colombia

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has denied social media claims that it confirmed the existence of ‘voto fusil’ (gunshot voting) during Colombia’s 2026 presidential second round. Misinformation circulating online suggested that millions of votes for Senator Iván Cepeda were the result of coercion by armed groups, but the mission’s 88-page final report concludes that no such interference altered the election results.

Esteban González, head of the mission, stated, ‘We have not detected interference from armed groups that has affected the result.’ Deputy head José Antonio de Gabriel noted that areas with intense presence of illegal armed groups represent only 0.5% to 1% of the population, and voting patterns in these zones were varied rather than showing a single mechanical pattern favoring one candidate.

The report noted that while reports of coercion were received in conflict zones, these allegations pointed toward both political sides and involved not only armed groups but also political clans, local authorities, and private entities. The mission observed that such phenomena were more pronounced during legislative elections than during the presidential second round.