Polls have shown that subsequently it has almost become a fact accepted by the political mainstream in Colombia as of 2005[update], specifically due to the gradual surfacing and historical evaluation of supporting evidence, memoirs and testimonies.

Initially, ANAPO tried to declare the elections illegitimate, both by actively calling for a citizen protest or uprising, and also by demanding that Colombia's Electoral Court abstain from supporting the official result.

ANAPO's reaction created alarm in many National Front politicians and media outlets, who supported the announced result.

President Carlos Lleras Restrepo vehemently denied the charges of fraud and argued that his responsibility was to hand over power to the legally recognized winning candidate.

The government declared a state of siege in order to try to stop riots from erupting, signs of which appeared mainly in Bogotá but also in some other regions of the country.