US, several Latin American countries urge orderly power transfer in Colombia

Washington [US], July 12: The United States and several Latin American countries on Friday urged Colombia's authorities to uphold the constitution and ensure an orderly transfer of power after the defeat of the left-wing candidate from outgoing President Gustavo Petro's party in May elections.
"We issue a firm appeal to all Colombian authorities to act in strict adherence to the Constitution, the law and democratic principles," a joint statement said.
In addition to the US, the signatories include Argentina, Ecuador and El Salvador as well as other states in Latin America and the Caribbean that are politically close to US President Donald Trump. The governments said they viewed with "deep concern" recent statements and actions that, without sufficient evidence, cast doubt on the integrity of Colombia's electoral process and create uncertainty about the institutional transition.
At the same time, the signatories stressed that only the will of voters officially determined by the competent electoral authorities gives state power democratic legitimacy. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune