Trump-backed lawyer set to face leftist senator in Colombia runoff
Abelardo de la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer backed by U. S. President Donald Trump, is set to contest Colombia’s presidential runoff against left-wing senator Iván Cepeda. The campaign has been dominated by how to address a surge in violence and displacement caused by armed groups, with Cepeda favouring negotiations and de la Espriella advocating a military crackdown, according to the BBC.
CNN reports that the runoff, scheduled for later this year, will pit the far-right outsider against the leftist senator, highlighting sharply divergent visions for security, the economy and relations with the United States. CBS News adds that both candidates have pledged different approaches to the country’s security and social challenges as voters prepare to cast their ballots. The contest is expected to draw intense attention to Colombia’s future direction.
