Colombia votes in runoff pitting leftist Cepeda against far-right de la Espriella

The runoff

Voters cast ballots in Colombia’s presidential runoff on 21 June, choosing between left-wing senator Iván Cepeda and far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella. The first round on 31 May saw de la Espriella win nearly 44% to Cepeda’s almost 41%, according to The New York Times. Cepeda, a human rights activist, represents the Historic Pact coalition and pledges to extend Petro’s social programmes and agrarian reforms. De la Espriella has no prior political office but capitalised on security fears with a law‑and‑order platform. After the first round, US President Donald Trump endorsed de la Espriella, calling Cepeda a “Marxist of extreme left”.

It is risky to think that Milei’s chainsaw or Bukele’s mega-prisons can be applied in Colombia.

Cepeda’s unlikely rise

Cepeda, 63, a philosophy professor and longtime human rights campaigner, entered the race with visible ambivalence.

Cepeda is a candidate who never set out to become president.

His father, a communist senator, was killed by state agents in 1994, shaping Cepeda’s dedication to victims’ rights. He grew up between Havana and Prague, studied in Bulgaria, and later served in Colombia’s Senate for three terms, often focusing on past conflicts rather than policy.

He is a quiet man, reserved, cold as steel, introverted, closed, almost always alone, speaks very little, not even the parliamentary courtesy contact, and it is very difficult to rattle him.

Campaign missteps and comeback

Cepeda’s early confidence led him to skip debates and give limited media access, a strategy labelled catastrophic by observers.

It was a catastrophic campaign.

After losing the first round, Cepeda shifted to a grassroots approach, touring the country and engaging young voters.

I am not a person who pretends to be another to win voters or favours. With much frankness and authenticity we have explained what we think and what we want to do.

He now frames his opponent as a danger to democracy and social equity.

What is at stake

The election is a referendum on Petro’s four-year leftward shift, which expanded social programmes and higher education access but left many Colombians disillusioned. De la Espriella, who built his reputation as a criminal defence lawyer in Miami, promises strongman tactics inspired by leaders like Nayib Bukele and Javier Milei. A victory for Cepeda would cement the left’s transformation from a stigmatised force to a permanent political pole; a de la Espriella win would signal a sharp turn toward a security‑first agenda. Polling shows a tight contest, with some surveys giving de la Espriella a narrowing edge.

Path to the runoff