BOGOTA, Colombia — A European Union election observation mission has affirmed the transparency and integrity of Colombia’s vote count following Sunday’s presidential runoff, amid ongoing disputes from the incumbent president and his favored candidate.

The mission, which deployed approximately 150 observers to monitor the election, noted that the vote tallying process complied with Colombian law and that no irregularities were detected. The statement comes after initial results showed conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella leading by around one percentage point—equivalent to nearly 251,000 votes—with nearly all ballots counted. Observers also monitored the first-round vote held in May.

President Gustavo Petro and his endorsed candidate, Iván Cepeda, have raised allegations of fraud and irregularities, contesting the results. Cepeda’s campaign announced plans to challenge outcomes at more than 30,000 polling stations and has refused to accept the vote count until a full recount is completed. Electoral authorities expect to finalize the recount later this week.

The runoff drew a record turnout, with over 26 million Colombians casting ballots. Among these, roughly 426,000 voters selected a third “none of the above” option on the ballot, expressing dissatisfaction with both candidates. An additional 29,000 ballots were submitted blank.

The election took place against a backdrop of deep national concerns about security and the potential resurgence of internal conflict marked by decades of violence, including bombings, kidnappings, disappearances, and forced displacement. Both candidates offered contrasting approaches to addressing these issues as they sought to appeal to the electorate.

The next president is scheduled to begin a four-year term on August 7.

The pre-election period was marked by heightened tensions and mutual accusations between the candidates, including charges of fraud, vote-buying, and intimidation. Petro notably criticized the vote-counting software used in the election, claims that observers described as unsubstantiated.

Esteban González Pons, head of the EU observation mission, expressed surprise at the president’s public denunciations of irregularities, particularly given that Petro is not a candidate in the current race. González Pons underscored that no evidence has emerged from their assessment to support claims of electoral misconduct.