The Colombian Armed Forces warned Petro in case he disregards the electoral outcome

In a climate of increasing political tension, the Military Forces of Colombia have established their position regarding a potential disregard for the results in the presidential runoff by the communist president Gustavo Petro.

The discussion became central to the debate after the leftist leader refused to recognize the results of the first round, which heightened tensions in the lead-up to the electoral decision between the right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella and the leftist Iván Cepeda.

In this context, questions arose about the role that the Colombian Armed Forces could play if a similar situation were to occur after the decisive elections.

The statements of General Hugo López

In light of this scenario, the commander of the Military Forces, General Hugo López, publicly stated his position and made it clear what the institution's stance would be regarding any attempt to disregard the popular will expressed at the polls.

“I believe that it should refer to the Constitution and the law. Article 217 is very clear: the Military Forces have a mission to fulfill, and it is their duty, in a scenario like the one you are proposing or any other scenario, to uphold the Constitution and the law,” General López affirmed when asked by the press.

With more than 300,000 troops under his command, the military chief emphasized that the actions of the Armed Forces will not be subject to political interpretations, but strictly to the current legal framework.

Article 217 of the Political Constitution, cited by the commander himself, establishes that “the Nation shall have permanent Military Forces for its defense, consisting of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. The primary purpose of the Military Forces shall be the defense of sovereignty, independence, the integrity of the national territory, and constitutional order.”

This legal framework reinforces the idea that, in the event of an institutional crisis, the role of the Military Forces will be oriented towards preserving constitutional order, which implicitly sets a limit against any attempt to disregard the official results issued by the National Registry.

Meanwhile, the political climate remains tense, especially regarding Gustavo Petro's behavior in case the results are not favorable to him.

Thus, just days before the presidential runoff, the focus is not only on who will be the next president but also on how institutions will react to a scenario that is already causing concern in the political and social sphere.