Key facts
- President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the government transition process.
- President Gustavo Petro alleged fraud in the election without providing evidence.
- De la Espriella accused Petro's administration of seeking to 'destroy Colombia.'
- Retired Major General Jorge Eduardo Mora was named defense minister.
- Mora's mandate includes cracking down on illegal armed groups and criminals.
Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has suspended the government transition process following allegations of electoral fraud by outgoing President Gustavo Petro. De la Espriella, who received an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, accused Petro's administration of attempting to 'destroy Colombia' and stated that the transition would be halted immediately. Petro had refused to recognize de la Espriella's victory without providing evidence. The suspension marks a significant disruption to the formal handover of power, known as 'empalme,' which has been strained by mutual accusations between the political rivals. Finance Minister Germán Ávila ordered his team to suspend the handover, criticizing statements from de la Espriella's transition team. De la Espriella also appointed retired Major General Jorge Eduardo Mora as his defense minister, signaling a shift towards intensified military action against armed groups, a departure from Petro's approach.