Gustavo Petro blasts president-elect de la Espriella as 'US servant' in farewell speech

"The next president of Colombia will be a servant of the rulers of the US who helped him to be 'elected.'"

In his final speech as head of state, outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday blasted Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombia's president-elect whose campaign was openly favored by the Trump administration, for being beholden to the United States.

Petro also reiterated his refusal to accept the runoff results, in which leftist rival Ivan Cepeda lost by roughly one percentage point, according to the country’s electoral organization.

"We should have re-elected the government. It is the rational thing, and I have to tell you that the people of Colombia chose Ivan Cepeda as president," he told supporters following a military parade to mark the country’s 216th independence day as part of the ceremonial governmental transition.