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Politics

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.

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.