The Guardian view on Colombia’s election: Trumpism has gone transnational
A warning from Latin America about US money, platforms, data and paranoid politics should not be dismissed lightly
TL;DR
- Iván Cepeda conceded defeat in Colombia's presidential election, while outgoing president Gustavo Petro alleged US interference.
- The far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who promised drastic policy changes, won by a narrow margin.
- Petro's claims of US interference point to a shift from armed force to data, disinformation, and fear as tools of influence.
- Examples from Honduras, Chile, and Argentina illustrate how elections can be swayed through text messages, hacked apps, and financial incentives.
- The article warns that foreign actors, including US private citizens, can interfere through money and social media division, posing a threat to democracies globally.
- The privatization, poor regulation, and manipulability of political infrastructure weaken democracy.