De La Espriella, presidente electo, cancela empalme y alerta sobre golpe de Estado de Petro y Cepeda

In his third address, President-elect Abelardo De La Espriella denounced the implementation of a coup d'état by outgoing President Gustavo Petro and his political heir, Iván Cepeda. The Colombian leader asserted that the current government seeks to "cling to power at all costs," usurping the functions of the electoral body to disregard the mandate of nearly 13 million voters. "Petro is a tyrant in the making who seeks to perpetuate himself in power by any means necessary... Petro's plan has always been to do the same as the Castros did, what his friend Chávez did, and what Ortega has done," he warned. El Tigre issued an unequivocal directive to the Armed Forces and the Police, demanding honor and gallantry in the darkest hour of the Republic. The President-elect urged the military to honor their constitutional oath and protect democracy, asking them "not to obey any order Petro is giving that contradicts" the Constitution. Likewise, he issued a maximum alert to the international community, requesting uninterrupted vigilance until the attempted coup has been completely neutralized, making it clear that the rule of law will not yield to the whims of authoritarianism. He warned that the actions of Petro and Cepeda "are compounded by the fear that both Petro and Cepeda have of the exposure that will come... and of the legal consequences of their ties to narcoterrorism," he stated. He also called on Colombians to engage in "constitutional resistance," guaranteeing that the victory obtained at the polls on June 21st would not be stolen. "God, the vote, and democracy have spoken... I will be a tiger defending Colombia from the coup plotters," he concluded, assuring that he will assume power on August 7th to restore order. Stand firm for the Fatherland!