BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) 鈥� Colombia鈥檚 President-elect on Tuesday suspended the transition process with and accused him of planning a coup to stay in power, after the incumbent leader refused to recognize results of the country’s election.
Petro said Monday that he refused to recognize de la Espriella鈥檚 victory in the June 21 presidential run-off election over the Petro coalition’s candidate Sen. Iv谩n Cepeda, alleging fraud without providing evidence.
The conservative, said in a video posted Tuesday on social media that Petro and Cepeda had launched a plan to 鈥渃ling to power at all costs鈥� through 鈥渁 coup d鈥櫭﹖at鈥� by refusing to recognize his victory. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation, and Petro did not immediately respond to it.
“As president-elect, I call on Colombia鈥檚 armed forces to honor their oath to protect the Constitution and democracy and to disobey any orders from Petro to the contrary,鈥� de la Espriella said.
He also called on the international community to monitor the transfer of power and urged his supporters to 鈥渞esist鈥� until his inauguration on Aug. 7.
The presidential transition, known in Colombia as 鈥渆mpalme,” in which the outgoing administration provides the president-elect with the information to prepare for governing, has been marked by mutual accusations between political rivals Petro and de la Espriella.
Germ谩n 脕vila, Colombia鈥檚 finance minister and the Petro administration鈥檚 transition coordinator, ordered his team to suspend the handover process in response to de la Espriella’s suspension. In a televised address, he criticized statements by members of de la Espriella鈥檚 transition team, and said that the president’s team had 鈥渘othing to hide.鈥�
De la Espriella, a lawyer and businessman whose ventures include a clothing line, alcoholic drinks and a restaurant, earned endorsement despite never having run for office. , in which he defeated progressive lawmaker Cepeda by 1 percentage point, or more than 251,000 votes.
The result was effectively an indictment of Petro鈥檚 government, whose policies Cepeda had promised to continue, including a largely failed effort .
After the runoff election, a European Union observer mission praised the transparency and efficiency of the vote-counting process. The Carter Center said the results management system was 鈥渞eliable, transparent and fully traceable.鈥�
On Tuesday, de la Espriella announced six more Cabinet appointments, adding to those already named to lead ministries of defense, interior, finance and environment.
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