The presidential candidate of the Historic Pact, Iván Cepeda, has acknowledged this Monday the results of Sunday’s elections, in which the far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella prevailed over the official campaign. In a press conference in Bogotá, where there was no room for questions, Cepeda said that throughout the night a team from his campaign was dedicated to making verifications and concluded that, for now, there are no elements indicating improper conduct: “There are no irregularities of sufficient magnitude to talk about fraud,” he said.
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The clarification comes after last night, upon receiving the election results, he brought to light two complaints that cast doubt on the electoral day. He supported the accusations made by President Petro warning about the inclusion of more than 800,000 additional ID cards that were not in the official electoral census count. And he spoke of atypical voting in some parts of the country. Although the senator had not given details of the complaints, he was cautious and warned that he would only speak when there was information from the scrutiny commission.
From his party’s campaign headquarters in the Teusaquillo locality, Bogotá, he also referred to his proposal to organize a presidential debate with his opponent, Abelardo de la Espriella. “We have been very clear that we will engage in political confrontation. We have never denied the decision to debate. We have only stated that there must be clear rules.” The official candidate has appointed Gabriela Parra, his press chief, and representative Gabriel Becerra, one of his closest campaign advisors, as interlocutors with the far-right team. However, Cepeda has refused to have the debate directed by Revista Semana as De la Espriella proposed. “Revista Semana is clearly committed to a candidacy in this campaign and does not deny it.”
Cepeda has asked his opponent to attend the debate without “help” or “sponsors,” but that the meeting be between the two candidates in what he has called a political duel. “Come alone and here we will understand each other regarding the issues that interest the country. Let the discussion be about programs, ideas, arguments, and not about your practices,” he said. The candidate also took the opportunity to talk about the annoyance caused by the appropriation of the Colombia National Team jersey amid the far-right campaign. “I have not used that campaign and I ask that no one from my campaign use it. Just as the national symbols that represent all of us should not be used,” he stated.
Although the candidate had already referred to the foreign intervention of the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, who last week announced his support for Abelardo de la Espriella and presented as diplomatic achievements the fulfillment of an order from the Andean Community, Cepeda returned to the same topic this Monday. “Now a decision of the Andean Community of Nations seems like a gift or a handout from President Noboa to candidate De la Espriella. No, don’t be a thief. Don’t steal things that belong to the Nation.”
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