Colombia Elects New Congress and Presidential Candidates Amid Tensions with the US

Colombia Holds Congressional Elections with Over 3,000 Candidates

On Sunday, Colombians will cast their votes for 102 Senate seats and 182 House seats, with more than 3,000 candidates vying for the positions. Approximately 41.2 million eligible voters are expected to participate in the election.

The congressional vote is being held alongside presidential candidate elections for the country’s three main political blocs: left, centre-left, and right. The winners of the primary elections will go on to compete in the presidential election, scheduled for May 31.

According to Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez, a group of at least 2,400 people attempting to enter Colombia via an illegal border crossing with Venezuela were detected before polls opened. President Gustavo Petro described this incident as “large-scale fraud” and called for action from the mayor of Cucuta.

The election is being carried out with over 126,000 law enforcement officers deployed across the country. The president’s government has faced criticism regarding the use of election software, with some questioning its reliability.

In a separate development, President Donald Trump had invited Petro to the White House last month, following a meeting between the two leaders that was described as productive despite lingering tensions. The two leaders have engaged in a series of public exchanges over issues such as immigration and human rights.

Source: Al Jazeera