Colombia advisor sought ex-paramilitary smear of rival pre-runoff

Víctor de Currea Lugo, a presidential advisor for the Middle East, allegedly asked ex-paramilitary Salvatore Mancuso in May–June 2026 to orchestrate an 'opinion coup' against Abelardo ahead of the runoff. The claim, reported by La Silla Vacía, suggests a political dirty-tricks operation involving a convicted paramilitary, but details on the outcome or corroboration remain unclear. This matters as it could undermine electoral integrity and trigger political fallout in Colombia.