Colombia's Attorney General Gregorio Eljach said the presidential first-round pre-count has reached 100% [1] and cannot be disqualified by the president.

The statement comes as the country faces tension over the legitimacy of the electoral process. The clash between the nation's top legal overseer and the executive branch highlights a growing conflict over the transparency of the software used to tally votes.

Eljach visited the counting commissions at Corferias in Bogotá on June 1 [2]. The visit was a direct response to complaints lodged by President Gustavo Petro and candidate Iván Cepeda regarding alleged irregularities in the pre-count software [3].

"The president does not have the competence to disqualify," Eljach said [4].

While President Petro has stated that he does not accept the pre-count results [5], the Attorney General maintains that the institutional process remains valid. This friction follows an earlier call for stability on May 19, when Eljach said President Petro should create an environment of electoral tranquility [6].

Other institutions have aligned with the electoral organization to support the transparency of the first round [7]. Officials said that the comprehensive review of the pre-count is expected to be completed within three to four days [8].

The Attorney General's intervention serves as a legal firewall between the political grievances of the presidency and the technical administration of the vote. By visiting the counting site in person, Eljach sought to verify the integrity of the commissions and counteract the narrative of systemic fraud promoted by the president's camp.

“"The president does not have the competence to disqualify."”

This confrontation underscores a significant institutional rift in Colombia, where the executive branch is openly challenging the technical results of the national electoral body. If the presidency continues to reject the pre-count, it may undermine public confidence in the final results and complicate the transition of power, regardless of who emerges victorious in the subsequent rounds.