EU Delegation to Monitor Colombian Election Amid Fraud Scandal

Amid mounting reports of widespread fraud in the lead up to Colombia's presidential election on May 27, the European Union said that eight European parliament members will monitor the election.

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The lawmakers are scheduled to arrive in Colombia Friday, joining two representatives that have already been in the South American country since May 4, according to Colombia Reports.

The delegation will include: Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Pilar Ayuso, Juan Fernando Lopez and Ana Miranda (Spain); Jose Inacio Faria (Portugal); Marie Arena (Belgium); Giulia Moi (Italy); and Andre Elissen (The Netherlands).

“The European Union reiterates its firm commitment to Colombia, to the institutions and will continue to work for a country committed to democracy, development and reconciliation,” EU Ambassador Patricia Llombart noted in a press release Tuesday.

The scheduled arrival of the delegation comes amid an ongoing scandal related to widespread electoral fraud in the outcome of March legislative elections.

Anywhere “between ten and 20 per cent” of the votes were altered and leftist presidential candidate Gustavo Petro has taken the current administration led by President Juan Manuel Santos to task over the scandal.

Last week, Petro urged his supporters to “defeat the fraud of Santos and the Registrar that favors (his opponent German) Vergas” by registering in mass as electoral witnesses, according to Colombia Reports. He called on his supporters to “fill the public squares of all the country's towns” and “keep an eye on the votes” right after the polling stations close on May 27 at 4 p.m.