US and its Latin American partners urge 'peaceful' transition in Colombia

The United States and 12 members of the Shields of the Americas alliance issued a joint statement Friday calling on Colombian authorities to conduct a peaceful transition of power, after outgoing president Gustavo Petro cast doubt on the recent presidential run-off vote.

"We issue a firm call to all Colombian authorities to act in strict adherence to the Constitution, the law, and democratic principles...and to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, and transparent transition, in accordance with the highest standards of the Rule of Law," the statement read.

Abelardo de la Espriella, the hard-right president-elect of Colombia backed by US President Donald Trump, earlier this week had asked his team to suspend the transition process with Petro's administration over the leftist's refusal to recognise the June election results.

Petro, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, has since promised a "peaceful transition" and would remain in office until next month when De la Espriella takes his place.

The signatories of the joint statement said they observed "with deep concern the recent statements and actions that, without duly substantiated grounds, cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in the Republic of Colombia and generate uncertainty regarding the normal course of the institutional transition."

"Disregarding the results officially proclaimed by said authorities constitutes a serious disregard for the popular will and for the principles that underpin the Rule of Law," the statement added.

In addition to Washington, the signatories included Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.

– TIMES/AFP