The shadow of Washington hangs over the Colombian presidential election | Radio-Canada

The Colombian presidential elections which are due to conclude on Sunday in the second round have strong echoes in the United States.

Leading elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, share their support between the left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda and the ultraconservative Abelardo de la Espriella.

Several of them took part in large political rallies in the streets of Phoenix, Miami and New York, an unusual fight on American soil which could well have a major impact on the fate of more than 53 million Colombians.

Tension has risen a notch in recent days in Arizona, whereICEthe federal immigration police, arrested a well-known Colombian left-wing activist, Beto Coral, who had been living in the United States since 2015.

The arrest occurred a few days after his participation in demonstrations against the Republicans’ favorite presidential candidate: Abelardo de la Espriella.

Open in full screen mode

She was immediately celebrated by senators, such as Republican Berni Moreno (Ohio). In a message published on X, the elected official requests his expulsion.

You can’t come to the United States, ask for asylum, and then act as a foreign agent of that same government [NDLR : de la Colombie] while simultaneously undermining our foreign policya affirmé l’élu, né à Bogota. Have a good life back in Colombia.

In response, 11 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the White House expressing their deep concern and denouncing what they see as potential interference in the South American country’s sovereignty.

But they don’t stop there. They also demand that the American government take another look at the alleged links of Abelardo de la Espriella with controversial financing networks.

They are worried about the consequences of the White House strategy, which favors one political camp to the detriment of the local democratic process.

Open in full screen mode

The foal of Trump in Colombia

On June 2, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, officially sided with Abelardo de la Espriella. Since then, the American president has multiplied his gestures of support.

As president, Abelardo would enjoy immense success in leading Colombia toward economic growth, creating jobs, promoting trade, stopping illegal immigration, taking tough action against crime and drugs, and restoring law and order.a écrit Donald Trump sur son réseau Truth Social.

He took care to recall that the aspiring president, who also holds American citizenship, supported him politically and economically during his own presidential campaign.

Because of his enormous accomplishments in life and his political support for me personally, the US president continued, it is an honor for me to give Abelardo my total and absolute support.

The head of the White House did not mention the other presidential candidate, Ivan Cepeda, other than to describe him as radical left-wing Marxist.

This strategy of the American president is reminiscent of various gestures made in other Latin American countries since his arrival in power in order to favor regimes with which he shares economic and political affinities.

Open in full screen mode

Sanctions and prison… in the United States

Abelardo de la Espriella adopted an atypical campaign strategy by calling on Washington to intervene in Colombian politics to attack his adversaries.

In a video, he urges the State Department and its secretary, Marco Rubio, to revoke the visas of current President Gustavo Petro and his entourage, whom he calls mafia.

His threats are not limited to travel restrictions, as he is also demanding that the United States Department of Justice initiate criminal proceedings against the current administration and its economic backers, alleging suspicious links with Venezuela.

This maneuver, which targets figures as diverse as left-wing Colombian legislators and former Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, raises questions, since it touches on diplomatic and judicial relations between Bogota and Washington.

It is very clear: anyone who attacks an American citizen – whether they are government representatives, ordinary citizens, criminal gangs or narcoterrorists – will have to answer for their actions before American justice. This is only the beginning: we don’t joke with the United States.

Open in full screen mode

Fan the embers

The American presence in the Colombian elections adds to the already tense climate in a divided and polarized country.

Colombia has lived for decades under the pressure of an armed conflict which left tens of thousands of victims and under the control of criminal groups who did not want to give up their weapons.

In 2021, during a popular uprising, these criminal groups took advantage of clashes between the people and the police to create confusion and gain ground.

In a country where inequalities are striking and which lives, these days, under high tension, anything can light the spark of violence.

In the first round, De la Espriella received 10.3 million votes, while Cepeda received 9.7 million.

4:14