Colombia Faces Runoff Between Far-Right Populist and Progressive Senator
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Colombia is set for a presidential runoff between far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by reactionary forces and U.S. conservatives, and left-wing senator Iván Cepeda, who champions social justice and challenges decades of neoliberal policies.
On Sunday, Colombians will decide between two starkly different futures in a presidential runoff. The far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, self-styled as “the Tiger,” represents entrenched elite interests and reactionary law-and-order politics, while left-wing senator Iván Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition stands for progressive change and social justice. In the first round, de la Espriella, a former criminal-defense lawyer with dual Colombian-U.S. citizenship, captured 43.74% of the vote, while Cepeda, a tireless advocate for the marginalized, received just under 41%. Neither secured the majority needed for victory, setting the stage for a decisive runoff.
De la Espriella’s campaign has been a spectacle of hardline rhetoric, promising mega-prisons and a return to failed free-market dogma. His candidacy is openly supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who lauded de la Espriella’s “tremendous accomplishments” and personal loyalty, signaling a disturbing alignment with far-right U.S. interests.
“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, whose father was assassinated for his leftist activism, has made reducing inequality, agrarian reform, and anti-corruption central to his campaign. He has courageously criticized decades of U.S.-backed counternarcotics policies that have fueled violence and social division. Cepeda pledges to preserve the social advances of President Gustavo Petro’s administration, while seeking a humane security strategy that prioritizes dialogue with armed groups and refuses to negotiate with those who continue assassinations.
Security remains a flashpoint. Analysts highlight that violence has persisted under Petro’s “Total Peace” policy, largely due to the fragmented legacy of the 2016 peace deal. De la Espriella calls for militarized crackdowns, including U.S.-backed bombing campaigns and a “Plan Colombia 2.0” targeting fentanyl precursors—a recipe for more violence and foreign interference. Cepeda, in contrast, insists that only a comprehensive approach, including enforcement of peace agreements, can address the root causes of conflict.
The runoff unfolds amid public anxiety over the health system and the humanitarian crisis in neighboring Venezuela, which right-wing fearmongers exploit to sway voters. International observers and electoral authorities have confirmed the integrity of the process, despite attempts to cast doubt.
Political heavyweights have taken sides: former President Álvaro Uribe and third-place candidate Paloma Valencia have thrown their support behind de la Espriella, reinforcing the right’s grip, while President Petro stands with Cepeda, defending the progressive agenda. Analysts predict the outcome will reshape Colombia’s political landscape, with the hope that the left’s momentum will finally break the cycle of inequality and repression.
