The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Colombia presented its preliminary statement on the second round of the presidential elections on 23 June 2026, commending the transparent and well-organized process. Chief Observer Esteban Gonzalez Pons, also Vice-President of the European Parliament, congratulated the Colombian people for their democratic commitment, reflected in historic voter turnout. 'The National Civil Registry organized the election transparently and effectively, with great independence, despite logistical and security challenges in certain areas of the country,' he said.
The mission deployed 141 observers from 24 EU member states, plus Norway, Switzerland, and Canada, who monitored 592 polling stations across the country. The election day passed without significant incidents. Gonzalez Pons highlighted the robustness of Colombian democracy, supported by independent institutions and a strong commitment to the rule of law. 'Polarization has not been and should not be a cause for its weakening,' he added.
The preliminary statement noted that the results management system is reliable, effective, and complies with international standards of transparency, integrity, and traceability. The preliminary vote count was transparent and very fast, with nearly 100 percent of preliminary results published within one hour of polls closing. The official scrutiny, transparent and well-organized, is being conducted in the presence of legal teams from the candidates.
Gonzalez Pons observed that the second-round campaign took place mainly online, with widespread disinformation and unprecedented use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes. Leire Pajin Iraola, head of the European Parliament delegation within the mission, stated: 'We reiterate our confidence in the work of the institutions that will determine the final result and trust that all political actors will respect their decisions. We also underline the need to build political dialogue and reach a constructive agreement.'
The mission will remain in the country to observe the scrutiny and resolution of any appeals. Two months after the process concludes, it will present a final report with recommendations for future elections. The mission's methodology is based on principles of independence, neutrality, and non-interference, evaluating elections against international standards and Colombian law.