Colombia’s Presidential Race Heads to Runoff Between De La Espriella and Cepeda
De la Espriella led with 44% of the vote and Cepeda with 41%, forcing a June 21 runoff after no candidate won a majority.
- On Sunday, Colombian voters sent lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and Senator Iván Cepeda to a presidential runoff scheduled for June 21, after De la Espriella led with more than 43% and Cepeda secured less than 41% of votes.
- The election functions as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' policy, which aims to negotiate ceasefires with armed factions 10 years after Colombia signed the historic peace pact with FARC.
- De la Espriella, known as 'The Tiger,' advocates for a militaristic crackdown modeled on President Nayib Bukele's approach, while Cepeda promises to deepen reforms and continue what he describes as a 'democratic revolution' under Petro.
- Washington is closely watching the runoff given Colombia's strategic role in hemispheric drug trafficking and migration efforts, as the result will determine whether the nation aligns closer with President Donald Trump or pursues independent foreign policy.
- Candidates must now court the less than 7% of voters who supported Paloma Valencia to secure victory in the highly polarized June 21 contest, which will set Colombia on sharply diverging political paths.
331 Articles
331 Articles
Malay Mail
MalaysiajournalTrump acolyte, leftist icon: Who will be Colombia’s next leader?
BOGOTÁ, May 31 — A right-wing millionaire lawyer who vows an iron fist on narco gangs and a leftist philosopher-turned-senator have made it through to a June 21 runoff to see who will be Colombia’s next president.‘The Tiger’ Abelardo de la Espriella, 47, is a millionaire lawyer and businessman who said he entered politics to prevent Colombia from being “destroyed” by the left.He holds US President Donald Trump, Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Sa…
der Standard AT
der Standard DEDe la Espriella wins the first round of the presidential election and is considered a favorite for the final election. Counter-Cepeda wants to continue the left policy of Gustavo Petro
Right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella, who won almost 44 percent of the vote according to unconfirmed results, and 63-year-old left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda, who won around 41 percent of the vote, qualified for the second round of the presidential election in Colombia.
Washington Times
Ckpg TodayPro-Trump candidate takes lead in Colombia’s presidential race with promise of crime crackdown
Bombastic pro-Trump lawyer Aberaldo de la Espriella pulled ahead as a leader in Colombia's race for the presidency in the first round of elections over the weekend, capitalizing on a growing appetite for heavy-handed crackdowns on criminal groups across Latin America.
Durango Herald
De la Espriella takes spotlight in Colombia's presidential race with promise of crime crackdown
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Bombastic pro-Trump lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella pulled ahead in Colombia’s race for the presidency in the first round of elections over the weekend, capitalizing on a growi...
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