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Colombia began on Tuesday the final phase of the scrutiny that will define the winner of the tight presidential runoff. The preliminary count of the Registry Office places the conservative Abelardo de la Espriella with 49.66% of the votes, compared to 48.70% for the progressive Iván Cepeda. The difference exceeds 250,800 votes.

Scrutiny underway

The National Electoral Council (CNE) is in charge of consolidating the minutes and resolving claims. Its president, Cristian Quiroz, set up the process in an events center in Bogotá to “provide total certainty and transparency to citizens.” Previously, a judicial scrutiny had a 99.99% coincidence with the preliminary count, according to the Registry Office.

Cepeda did not recognize the result and assured that his party has filed complaints about tens of thousands of tables for alleged irregularities. During the campaign, De la Espriella also denounced vote buying and pressure from armed groups, supposedly in favor of Cepeda. The progressive candidate rejected this “narrative of the so-called ‘rifle vote’ that seeks to endanger the lives of many people,” especially in rural areas.

The outgoing president Gustavo Petro joined the questions. On the social network

Marta Bolívar, representative of the Historical Pact coalition, told The Associated Press that the complaints range from the count to pressure on voters and the purchase of votes. The Pact requested a recount of the votes abroad, but the request was denied. “We consider it to be an unconstitutional measure,” said Bolívar.

De la Espriella proclaimed himself the winner and asked Cepeda and Petro to admit the results. He has already been recognized as president-elect by Trump, the Argentine Javier Milei and the Panamanian José Raúl Mulino, among others. The lawyer announced that he is working on forming his cabinet for August 7, when he will take office. He also reported that his government will join the “Shield of the Americas”, a Trump initiative against cartels.

In contrast, the European Union observation mission stressed the transparency of the process. “We have not observed any irregularity… and as far as we have observed, Colombian legislation has been followed,” said the head of the mission, Esteban González Pons.

Ukraine confirmed this Tuesday a new series of drone attacks against strategic targets in Crimea. The offensive seeks to weaken the logistical and energy capacity of Russian forces on the peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Objectives achieved

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the attacks hit an oil depot at the Kerch thermal power plant. They also hit an electrical substation in western Crimea and a liquefied natural gas distribution station in Simferopol.

Special Operations Forces reported the partial destruction of a railway bridge. This route was used to transport military supplies to southern Ukraine.

The strikes are part of a broader strategy to isolate the peninsula and reduce Russia’s ability to respond in the region. So far, Moscow has not issued an official statement on the damage.

Bilateral meeting at the National Palace

President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that next Thursday, June 25, she will meet with King Felipe VI of Spain. The event is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the National Palace, taking advantage of the monarch’s visit to Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. The following Friday, the king will attend the Spain-Uruguay match in Guadalajara.

The meeting occurs after years of diplomatic tensions. During the six-year term of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the relationship cooled due to the demand for a public apology for the grievances of the Conquest. This generated distance with the Royal House and the Spanish government.

Approach signs

With the new government, efforts have been made to maintain institutional dialogue. Sheinbaum had already taken steps in that direction: at the end of April he carried out official activities in Barcelona and expressed his willingness to build a relationship based on mutual respect.

The meeting with Felipe VI reinforces that line. Both leaders will address issues of common interest, without a specific agenda having been leaked. The meeting is seen as a gesture of diplomatic normalization between both nations.