BOGOTA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Ivan Cepeda, the candidate of the left-wing coalition Historic Pact, conceded defeat in Colombia's presidential election during a livestream on Wednesday morning local time.
Colombia held the second round of its presidential election on Sunday, in which independent candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement faced Cepeda. The candidate receiving the most votes is set to be elected president.
Preliminary results released by Colombia's National Civil Registry on Sunday night showed De la Espriella leading Cepeda by about 1 percentage point.
The results were questioned by incumbent President Gustavo Petro, who said on X that it was still not possible to declare who would be the country's next president. De la Espriella had already claimed victory on Sunday night.
Under Colombia's electoral system, vote counting follows a two-step process. After election day, a preliminary count is conducted by a technical service provider commissioned by the National Civil Registry, but the result has no legal effect.
It is followed by an official canvass led by Colombian judges and electoral officials. That count is legally binding and serves as the final result.
The official canvass is nearing completion and shows little difference from the preliminary count, according to reports. The National Electoral Council is expected to announce Colombia's next president on Wednesday. ■
