Leftist leader Gustavo Petro, whose term has expired, continues to blame Israel and the US following his defeat in the presidential elections. In a speech on Independence Day, Petro said he would soon provide evidence to the public that software supplied by Israel manipulated the vote count.
Petro's election fraud claims had previously been denied by Colombian electoral authorities. However, the former president repeated his accusation that Israel and the US interfered in the electoral process in his country.
Call to protect reforms and strike threat
The leftist leader called on his supporters to protect the social and economic reforms implemented by his government. Petro instructed that if the new administration changes labor laws, 'millions' would be mobilized to carry out strikes.
The reforms enacted during Petro's term increased overtime pay while making it harder for companies to hire workers on short-term contracts.
Cutting ties with Israel
Gustavo Petro severed diplomatic relations on May 3, 2024, describing Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. The former president also completely banned coal exports to Israel on August 31, 2025.
New president's Israel and US connections
The conservative candidate who won the election, Abelardo De La Espriella, holds dual Colombian-US citizenship. De La Espriella, nicknamed 'Tiger,' will be sworn in on August 7.
The new president pledged to reduce government spending by up to 40 percent and to draft new labor laws that allow businesses to hire workers on an hourly wage.
De La Espriella vowed to take relations with Israel to an 'unprecedented' level in foreign policy. Before the election, he had announced that he would move Colombia's embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and be a loyal ally of Israel.
