Carter Center

Retired US judges Michael P Donnelly and Robert F Orr joined a bus tour with legal professionals to advocate for the rule of law. They were inspired by colleagues who visited Warsaw and reported on challenges faced by Central European judges and lawyers, including surveillance, prosecution, and imprisonment for resisting political interference in courts.

Colombia’s President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the transition process with outgoing President Gustavo Petro after Petro refused to recognize de la Espriella’s electoral victory, alleging fraud. De la Espriella accused Petro’s administration of corruption and destructive policies, while Petro’s transition team emphasized transparency. The election result, which saw de la Espriella defeat Iván Cepeda by 1 percentage point, was described as a rejection of Petro’s government by international observers.

A new nonpartisan nonprofit, Keep Our Republic, is launching in North Carolina to provide accurate information about election processes through community conversations. The organization includes diverse advisory members and experts in election administration, aiming to address concerns about vote counting and election security.