Colombia prepares for runoff between far-right outsider and leftist senator
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A presidential runoff will be held Sunday between far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and left-wing senator Iván Cepeda, reflecting sharply divergent visions for security, the economy and relations with the United States.
Colombians will vote Sunday in a presidential runoff that pits far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, who brands himself “the Tiger,” against left-wing senator Iván Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition. De la Espriella secured 43.74% of the vote in the first round, while Cepeda received just under 41%, leaving both candidates short of the majority needed for an outright win.
The former criminal-defense lawyer, a dual Colombian-U.S. citizen, has run a high-profile campaign that mixes spectacle with a hard-line stance on crime, promising mega-prisons and a free-market agenda. He has received an explicit endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who praised de la Espriella’s “tremendous accomplishments” and personal political support on social media.
“I give my complete and total backing to Abelardo de la Espriella because of his accomplishments and his support for me personally,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Cepeda, the son of an assassinated left-wing senator, frames his campaign around reducing inequality, agrarian reform and anti-corruption measures, while criticizing decades of U.S.-backed counternarcotics policy. He has pledged to preserve parts of President Gustavo Petro’s social agenda but seeks a different security strategy, emphasizing dialogue with armed groups and a “red line” against negotiations with groups that continue assassinations.
Security remains a central issue. Analysts note that violence has not declined under Petro’s “Total Peace” policy, with the conflict becoming more fragmented since the 2016 peace deal. De la Espriella argues for aggressive military tactics, including a proposed bombing campaign with the United States and a “Plan Colombia 2.0” to curb fentanyl precursors. Cepeda counters that militarization alone cannot resolve the dispersed conflict, advocating for stronger enforcement of negotiated agreements.
The runoff also occurs amid concerns over the health system and the neighboring Venezuelan crisis, which some voters fear could influence Colombia’s future direction. International observers and electoral authorities have affirmed the integrity of the voting process.
Political figures have already aligned themselves: former President Álvaro Uribe and third-place candidate Paloma Valencia have endorsed de la Espriella, while President Petro continues to support Cepeda. Analysts suggest the race will further reshape Colombia’s political landscape, expanding space for both left- and right-wing forces.
