Colombia's presidential election will be decided in a second round. With more than 99% of the ballots counted this Sunday (31), right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella finished the race in the lead, with more than 43% of the votes, but without reaching the majority needed to win in the first round.
In the second round, scheduled for June 21, he will face leftist senator Iván Cepeda, who received about 40% of the vote and has the support of Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
The vote is taking place against a backdrop of strong political polarization and is seen as a test for the legacy of the first left-wing government in the country's recent history. Petro is constitutionally barred from running for reelection.
Security dominated the election debate.
Public safety was one of the main themes of the presidential campaign. Colombia is facing a new escalation of violence in regions dominated by armed groups involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion.
During the electoral process, the country experienced episodes of violence, including attacks with explosives, actions by armed groups, and the assassination of then-presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay.
De la Espriella advocates a policy of direct confrontation with criminal organizations, including expanding military operations and building mega-prisons. The candidate often cites as references the security policies adopted by the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
Cepeda, on the other hand, is betting on resuming negotiations with armed groups and expanding social policies. The senator participated in the peace negotiations that culminated in the 2016 agreement between the Colombian government and the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The dispute also reflects the government's assessment of Petrobras.
Iván Cepeda's candidacy is seen as an attempt to continue the policies implemented by Gustavo Petro. Among the measures advocated by the government camp are programs to combat inequality, expand social protection, and implement agrarian reform.
On the other hand, government opponents argue that the strategy of dialogue with armed groups has produced limited results and has allowed criminal organizations to strengthen in some regions of the country.
The third-place finisher was conservative senator Paloma Valencia, who garnered almost 7% of the vote and was eliminated from the presidential race.
A fragmented Congress is likely to challenge the next president.
Regardless of who wins in June, the next Colombian president will face a fragmented Congress, a scenario that has already marked the Petro administration.
The legislative elections held in March indicated that no single political force will have a sufficient majority to govern alone, which will likely force the future president to build alliances to approve reforms and projects considered strategic.
The second round is scheduled for June 21 and will determine who will lead Colombia for the next four years.
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