Bogotá — A Colombian appeals court on Tuesday annulled the first-round presidential election result, ordering a new vote within 30 days after finding systematic irregularities in ballot counting across 14 departments. The decision, delivered by the Consejo Nacional Electoral in a 5–2 ruling, threw the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and triggered immediate counter-claims from both the far-right and leftist camps.
De la Espriella called for street protests Wednesday under the banner “Defend the Vote,” setting up mass rallies across Bogotá, Medellín and Cali. Petro urged supporters to remain calm and await the court’s full ruling, though his legal team immediately filed an appeal to the Supreme Court challenging the CNE’s authority to annul results after voting has concluded.
The electoral tribunal must now schedule a new first-round vote within 30 days under Article 191 of Colombia’s constitution. Both de la Espriella and Petro remain eligible to run. Analysts warn the court’s decision could suppress participation in the rerun. The national electoral council said it will publish a full audit of contested polling stations by June 10.
The OAS called the court’s decision “within its constitutional mandate” but urged both campaigns to avoid inflammatory rhetoric. A State Department spokesperson said the US was monitoring the situation closely. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for “calm and institutional respect” in a post on X. Diego Vargas, Media Hook, Bogotá.