Colombian NGO the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) warned Friday that political intervention and armed coercion, as well as electoral fraud, remain a risk in the country’s upcoming presidential elections.
MOE said that the departments of Cauca, Narino, Putumayo, Choco, Cordoba and Antioquia were particularly at risk of electoral corruption and fraud, reports El Tiempo.
The organization said that the suspension of Valle del Cauca governor, Juan Carlos Abadia, for illegally supporting Andres Felipe Arias’ Conservative primary campaign was proof that problems in this area still persist.
There is also “sufficient evidence” of “the political participation of other governors” which has not yet been properly investigated, MOE reports.
Earlier in the week, MOE described to Colombia Reports some of the problems which arose at the polling stations during Colombia’s congressional elections in March, as well as outlining their concerns about problems that could arise in the May 30 presidential elections.