Colombia votes in polarised runoff pitting leftist reformer against right-wing outsider as security fears mount
Voters choose between Gustavo Petro ally Iván Cepeda and conservative lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella, whose first-round lead and Trump endorsement signal a potential rightward turn amid surging violence.
The candidates
Cepeda, 63, a senator and human rights activist, wants to continue Petro's "total peace" negotiations with armed groups and expand social spending. De La Espriella, 47, a former defense attorney for paramilitary figures, promises a military crackdown on guerrillas, tax cuts and a smaller state, while preserving the minimum wage increase and popular social measures.
Right now, what worries me is the polarization that exists between us: there are two very extreme sides, and the violence is concerning.
Security and violence
Last year saw 14,780 homicides, the most since at least 2015. Illegal armed groups have nearly doubled in size in five years, extending control over drug routes and illegal mining. The campaign was marred by violence, including the assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay and attacks with bombs and drones.
My brother was murdered in front of his children for not paying an extortion.
International dimension and regional shift
Trump has endorsed De La Espriella twice, calling Cepeda a "radical left Marxist." The runoff fits a broader rightward turn in Latin America, where Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Bolivia have elected right-wing presidents, and Peru's Keiko Fujimori is poised to win after a June 7 vote. De La Espriella's platform echoes the hardline security policies of Nayib Bukele and Javier Milei, according to The New York Times.
First-round and turnout
On May 31, De La Espriella won 43-44% of votes to Cepeda's 41%, with 17 million abstentions. Both candidates are now courting centrist abstainers. De La Espriella, who started the year near 20% in polls, now leads surveys by up to eight points.
- Abelardo De La Espriella
- 44 %
- Iván Cepeda
- 41 %
Recent developments
On Saturday, President Petro announced that the military killed Marlon, the right-hand man of Iván Mordisco, leader of the main FARC dissident group, in the Cauca department. The operation adds to the tense security atmosphere ahead of polls opening.
- First round vote yields no majority; De La Espriella gains 44%, Cepeda 41%.
- Colombian military kills Marlon, top commander of FARC dissident group, in Cauca department.
- Presidential runoff election held amid high polarisation.
