Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella calls on prosecutors to investigate allegations of voter coercion in remote areas ahead of the May 31 first-round presidential election. In his request, de la Espriella says rebel groups may have pressured or compelled voters in municipalities outside major population centers to support the governing party’s presidential candidate, Iván Cepeda. The candidate argues that prosecutors should determine whether coercion occurred and whether it influenced voting outcomes in those locations. The call comes as Colombia continues to scrutinize conduct around the election and the role of armed groups in rural regions. De la Espriella’s statement specifically focuses on alleged actions by rebel groups rather than other forms of interference, and he asks investigators to review evidence that could substantiate claims of intimidation or forced support. The reports agree that the issue centers on whether coercion affected how citizens voted for Cepeda in the first round.