23/06/2022 (Agence Europe) – The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, welcomed, on Tuesday 21 June the “smooth” political transition in Colombia following “orderly and transparent” presidential elections, which brought left-wing candidates Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez to power for the first time. In contrast to the shortcomings observed during the previous parliamentary elections (see EUROPE 12912/14), the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM), led by Javi López (S&D, Spain), assessed that the presidential elections met international democratic standards and were conducted in a “peaceful” atmosphere. The one regret was the murder of an electoral witness from the Pacto Hístorico, the political coalition led by Mr Petro, in the department of Cauca. See the preliminary report of the EU EOM: https://aeur.eu/f/29q (MB)