Colombian President Rejects Foreign Intervention in Presidential Election

Bogota (ANTARA) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro, on Tuesday (2/6), rejected foreign intervention in his country’s presidential election and urged his citizens not to become the slaves or colonies of anyone. Petro made these remarks after United States President Donald Trump offered open support to Colombian right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella. “When a country interferes in the decisions of another, freedom no longer exists,” Petro stated via his X social media account, calling upon all Colombian people to cast their votes in a truly free environment. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump congratulated Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the right-wing movement Defenders of the Homeland, on his lead in the first round of voting. “It is an honour for me to provide my full and total support to Abelardo,” said Trump. Colombia held the first round of the presidential election on Sunday (31/5). Preliminary vote counts show that Abelardo de la Espriella and Ivan Cepeda, a candidate from the ruling left-wing coalition Pacto Histórico, have advanced to the second round after securing the top two positions. Under the Colombian constitution, a president serves a single four-year term without the possibility of re-election. Petro is not participating in this election. The second-round election is scheduled for 21 June, with the winner to be inaugurated on 7 August.