Pro-Trump De La Espriella and Peace-Builder Cepeda to Face Off in Presidential Runoff in Colombia
De la Espriella led with 43.73% of votes, while Cepeda took 40.91%, according to nearly complete returns.
- 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.
136 Articles
136 Articles
According to the results of the first round on Sunday, Abelardo de la Espriella won 43.74% of the vote ahead of Ivan Cepeda (40.91%), heir to the outgoing president. The two candidates oppose in their vision to stem the violence of the armed groups, unprecedented in the last ten yearsThe ruling left will face the hard right in the second round of the presidential election in Colombia, in a decisive election. The million-dollar lawyer Abelardo de…
With promises of ten mega-prisons and an offensive against the country's armed groups, Abelardo de la Espriella has secured the best starting point before the decisive election round.
In the presidential election, Abelardo de la Espriella unexpectedly cut off from left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda. Voters have a hard hand against guerrilla and crime.
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