Elections · Bogotá and Popayán
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.
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In brief
De La Espriella pushes for a military crackdown on guerrillas and a boost to oil and gas, while Cepeda defends peace talks and social programs.
De La Espriella garnered 43–44% to Cepeda's 41%, with 17 million eligible voters not casting ballots in May.
Donald Trump twice endorsed De La Espriella and called Cepeda a 'radical left Marxist', mirroring a Latin American shift to right-wing leaders.
Homicides hit 14,780 last year, armed groups have nearly doubled in five years, and candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was assassinated during the campaign.
Authorities killed Marlon, a top FARC dissident commander and right hand to Iván Mordisco, in the Cauca department on 20 June.
- 31 MayFirst round vote yields no majority; De La Espriella gains 44%, Cepeda 41%.
- 20 JunColombian military kills Marlon, top commander of FARC dissident group, in Cauca department.
- 21 JunPresidential runoff election held amid high polarisation.
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 %
Data from the article text
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.
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Sources and context
- LaSextaColombia encara la segunda vuelta de sus elecciones presidenciales con el favoritismo del ultraderechista Abelardo de la Espriella
- Deutsche WelleParamilitary past hangs over Colombia's runoff election
- BBCCómo el brutal conflicto interno de Colombia está definiendo sus elecciones presidenciales
- ReutersColombia votes in runoff pitting leftist reformer against law-and-order newcomer
- Iván Cepeda
- Leftist senator, human rights defender, and ally of President Gustavo Petro
- Abelardo De La Espriella
- Right-wing lawyer and businessman, self-proclaimed political outsider endorsed by Donald Trump
- Gustavo Petro
- Outgoing president of Colombia, first leftist head of state
- Donald Trump
- President of the United States, endorsed De La Espriella
- Miguel Uribe Turbay
- Presidential candidate assassinated during the 2026 campaign
- Marlon
- Right-hand man of FARC dissident leader Iván Mordisco, killed in military operation on 20 June
- Iván Mordisco
- Leader of the Estado-Maior Central, main FARC dissident faction
- Álvaro Uribe
- Former president of Colombia, supporter of De La Espriella
- Paloma Valencia
- Conservative candidate who placed third in the first round, backs De La Espriella
- Edilma Martínez Flores
- Victim of extortion violence, quoted by BBC
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