De La Espriella Turns Colombia's Yellow Jersey Into Campaign Symbol Ahead of June Runoff
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 4
De La Espriella Turns Colombia's Yellow Jersey Into Campaign Symbol Ahead of June Runoff
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 4
Summary
Thousands of Colombians wore the national team’s yellow jersey to Abelardo De La Espriella’s closing rallies and into voting booths, recasting a World Cup symbol as partisan campaign gear.
The right-wing candidate had urged supporters to adopt the shirt in the final days of the race, a tactic that also skirted rules barring campaign clothing at polling sites.
Sunday’s vote sent De La Espriella into a runoff against leftist senator Iván Cepeda later this month, after Trump endorsed him on Tuesday.
Colombia’s soccer federation condemned the jersey’s use in “political confrontation,” and Cepeda accused De La Espriella of stealing a national emblem as the runoff and World Cup converge this month.