Why Colombia’s Pro-Trump Candidate Was Banned From Wearing the National Team Jersey
The court said the jersey cannot be used as his campaign symbol after leftist opponents accused him of appropriating a national emblem.
- On Thursday, Colombian Judge Aura Forero ordered the "immediate and definitive cessation" of hard-right presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella's use of the national football jersey as a political symbol, ruling his deployment of the garment was improper.
- Senator Ivan Cepeda accused the 47-year-old lawyer of "stealing" and appropriating the jersey, comparing Espriella's tactic to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who weaponized his nation's kit to rally supporters.
- Dubbing himself "The Tiger," Espriella frequently wears the jersey at public events and has pledged to defy the ban, describing the judicial order as an attack on personal freedoms.
- Enforcing the ban poses a challenge for police as the June 21 runoff approaches between Colombia's World Cup matches, particularly since 10 million Colombians voted for Espriella in the first round.
- Other leaders including President Gustavo Petro have also worn the national kit, illustrating how political figures across Latin America utilize sports symbolism to mobilize voters during elections.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Perhaps the electoral authorities of South America should take into account the football calendar when setting the date of the next elections.
Abelardo de la Espriella, favorite for the presidency according to the researches, usually wears the shirt of the national selection at public events.
Colombian judge orders De la Espriella to stop using national team jersey in campaign
A Bogotá court ordered presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and his party, Defensores de la Patria, to refrain from using the Colombian national football jersey at campaign events and in advertising, while it studies a constitutional protection action filed by a citizen. The provisional measure, issued on June 3 by the 120th Municipal Criminal Court, takes immediate effect and also covers social media and the press.
A judge banned the ultra-right candidate for the presidency of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, from wearing the national football team's shirt as a "symbol" of his political party, following complaints from the left in the middle of the campaign for the ballotage.
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