Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced Tuesday the immediate suspension of the transition process with the administration of President Gustavo Petro, following Petro's unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud.
De la Espriella, a conservative businessman and lawyer endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, stated on social media that the transition would cease with what he described as a "corrupt" government. He accused Petro's administration of intending to "destroy Colombia" through its policies and actions.
The formal handover process, known in Colombia as "empalme," is designed to provide the incoming president with essential information for governing. However, the handover between the politically opposed Petro and de la Espriella has been characterized by mutual accusations.
Germán Ávila, Colombia's finance minister and the Petro administration's transition coordinator, ordered his team to halt the process. He addressed the suspension in a televised statement, asserting that "The transition process is not a criminal investigation; it is not a trial. We have absolutely nothing to hide."
De la Espriella, who won the June 21 runoff election by defeating progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda by a narrow margin, has stated he will provide further details on his decision and subsequent plans. His victory was seen as a rebuke of Petro's government and its policies, including efforts to engage with armed groups.
An observer mission from the European Union praised the vote-counting process following the election, with The Carter Center describing the results management system as "reliable, transparent and fully traceable."