Disputed Colombian Vote Brings Fraud Claims, Recount Demands
- Conservative parties want senate ballots to be recounted
- Leftist Gustavo Petro alleges plot to cheat his party of seats
Gustavo Petro speaks during the first debate after the preliminary elections in Bogota, on March 14.
Photographer: Daniel Munoz/AFP/Getty Images
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A disputed vote count in Colombia’s congressional elections triggered fraud allegations and calls for a recount, risking undermining confidence in the electoral process two months before the country chooses its president.
Parties including the ruling Democratic Center are asking for a recount of senate ballots after election officials last week said there were “human errors” in many cases when tallying the votes from the March 13 vote. As a result, the final tally showed that Senator Gustavo Petro’s leftist party got thousands more votes than initially reported.