Colombia’s Deputy Prosecutor has supported calls for an election recount after strident petitions from Uribe’s Democratic Centre party.
María Eugenia Carreño said she supported the calls, but stressed that it would be as a measure of thoroughness rather than in reaction to specific allegations of fraud, Colombia’s BLU radio reported Thurday morning.
“It is fair and accurate time for all of these claims to be made. [But] it can not be said to be electoral fraud. What we are doing as a watchdog is a call for ballot measures to ensure timely care is taken with any disagreements.”
The designated Prosecutor for Electoral Affairs asked the Electoral Commission to address the complaints filed by the Democratic Centre Party, which has asked for a recount of votes in over 8,000 tables in the Atlantic, Antioquia and Valle del Cauca Costa districts.
Former President Alvaro Uribe’s party won a significant bloc in both the House and the Senate on Sunday, but ever since, have been highly critical of the electoral process, calling the new Congress “illegitimate.”
MORE: Uribe calls Colombia’s new Congress ‘illegitimate’ claiming election fraud
MORE: Uribe’s former justice minister accuses Santos’ party of election fraud
But the leftist Polo Democratico (Democratic Pole) Party, has also asked for a recount in one particular seat where the member looks set to lose their seat.
Poverty and fraud linked
Most of the incidents on Sunday were reported on the Carribean Coast, where many live below the poverty line and are possibly more susceptible to ‘inducements’ such as cash or food.
MORE: Elections in Soledad, Colombia’s ‘electoral fraud capital’
Sources
- Crece el eco de supuesto fraude en las elecciones legislativas (Blu Radio)
- Procuraduría pide que se atienda solicitud de reconteo de votos (Caracol Radio)