THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombia goes to polls in election pitting outgoing leader’s ally against pro-Trump candidates <p>Ballots are being cast in the first round of the South American nation’s presidential elections</p><p>Colombians are casting ballots in the first round of the South American nation’s presidential election, choosing between candidates with radically diverging visions for the future of peace in a country haunted by decades of armed conflict.</p><p>The vote on Sunday, seen as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies, comes 10 years after Colombia signed a historic peace pact with guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/31/colombia-polls-election-outgoing-leaders-ally-pro-trump-candidates">Continue reading...</a>

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

What to know about Colombia's presidential election | AP News Colombia will elect a new president and vice president on May 31 in a vote that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. Presidential candidate Sen. Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Center party waves supporters during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia) Supporters of presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition, hold a banner with an image that depicts him, during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement addresses supporters from a bulletproof booth during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) —Colombiawill elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoingPresident Gustavo Petro’spolicies. A former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group which fought for social justice in the 1970s and ‘80s, Petro has undertaken controversial peace neg…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombia votes in presidential election pitting Petro allies against pro-Trump candidates Ballots for the first round of Colombia's presidential election open Sunday, as candidates with radically diverging visions for the future face off. The vote, seen as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies, comes 10 years after Colombia signed an historic peace pact with guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombians will vote Sunday in a high-stakes test of President Gustavo ... Audio By Carbonatix BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia will elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. A former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group which fought for social justice in the 1970s and ’80s, Petro has undertaken controversial peace negotiations with the country’s remaining rebel groups while pushing for social and economic reforms that include an overhaul of the nation’s labor laws. He also has broken with previous Colombian leaders in his approach to foreign affairs by challenging the United States in areas like anti-drug policy and immigration while maintaining some co-operation with the Trump administration on these matters. The fate of these policies hangs in the balance as voters head to the polls, testing Petro’s assertion that “the people will decide if the revolution is defeated or if it moves forward.” Here is what to know about Colombia’s presidential election. There will be 14 candidates on the ballot, but the election has basically turned into a three-horse race. Colombia’s co…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombians will vote Sunday in high-stakes test of President Gustavo ... May 30, 2026|0 comments By Manuel Rueda Colombia will elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. Iván Cepeda leads in the polls going into Sunday’s election. A former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group which fought for social justice in the 1970s and ‘80s, Petro has undertaken controversial peace negotiations with the country’s remaining rebel groups while pushing for social and economic reforms that include an overhaul of the nation’s labor laws. He also has broken with previous Colombian leaders in his approach to foreign affairs by challenging the United States in areas like anti-drug policy and immigration while maintaining some co-operation with the Trump administration on these matters. He has also been embroiled in a war of words with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa which has resulted in increased tariffs on exports between Colombia and Ecuador. The fate of these policies hangs in the balance as voters head to the polls, testing Petro’s assertion that “the people will decide if the revolutio…

Colombia runoff pits de la Espriella against Cepeda over security Colombians voted on Sunday in a deeply polarised presidential runoff that has pitched businessman and lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella against Senator Ivan Cepeda, the political heir to outgoing President Gustavo Petro. The two candidates, who finished ahead of nine others in the May 31 first round, have offered sharply different answers to the country’s worsening security crisis, a struggling health system, rising public debt and entrenched corruption. The election has unfolded amid fears of renewed internal conflict, with both candidates framing their campaigns around how to prevent a return to the violence of earlier decades marked by car bombs, kidnappings, disappearances and forced displacement. De la Espriella, a conservative outsider, has proposed a hardline security approach and has won the endorsement of US President Donald Trump, while Cepeda has promised to continue Petro’s efforts to open talks with multiple illegal armed groups despite limited results so far. In Bogota, voter John Manrique voiced concern over the mood in the country. “Right now, what worries me is the polarisation that exists between u…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombia: Change or Restoration - Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung On 31 May, the South American nation elects a new head of state. Who will take over from Gustavo Petro? Four years after Gustavo Petro’s historic electoral victory as the first left-wing president to be elected in the history of the country , Colombia is now facing the question of whether the changes set in motion by Petro’s election should continue, or be reversed. The polls paint a relatively clear picture. All five of the polling agencies authorized by Colombia’s Electoral Council are predicting first place forIván Cepeda, a left-wing senator and the ruling coalition’s presidential candidate. The weighted average of the polls estimates  support for him at between 38 and 40 percent. This puts Cepeda clearly in the lead, but a long way from an absolute majority. It is safe to assume there will be a runoff election. In second and third place are Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, each with around 21 to 23 percent of the vote. Which of them will make it through to the runoff is crucial, because the simulations of a second round of voting put Cepeda ahead in the event that he faces off against De la Espriella — …

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombia has one week left to decide its future in presidential runoff In Colombia, supporters of President Gustavo Petro are mobilizing to ensure the continuation of progressive policies, campaigning in every neighborhood and town.

Colombia votes for its next president, weighing social support against ... Americas Colombia votes for its next president, weighing social support against security | Juan David Duque/Reuters Supporters of Colombian lawyer and presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella attend a campaign event in Medellín, Colombia, May 24, 2026. Loading... By Manuel Rueda Contributor May 29, 2026, 1:30 p.m. ET | Bogotá, Colombia Colombians will vote in a pivotal presidential election Sunday, pitting the socialist policies of the nation’s first leftist leader against a return to the more conservative, security-focused approach that once dominated Colombian politics. “This government has provided help to many groups,” says Otilia García, in her 70s, of President Gustavo Petro’s social policies, including overhauling Colombia’s labor laws, almost doubling the minimum wage, and bringing more financial support for retirees who don’t qualify for pensions. “But the lack of security is killing us.” Colombian law bars reelection, but Mr. Petro has framed the vote as a referendum on his government, which disrupted Colombia’s political status quo. He has used his confrontational leadership style to domin…

Colombians will vote Sunday in a high-stakes test of President Gustavo ... Colombians will vote Sunday in a high-stakes test of President Gustavo Petro’s agenda BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia will elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. Posted 5/28/2026, 4:13:13 AM Updated 5/29/2026, 1:48:13 AM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news By MANUEL RUEDA — Associated Press BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia will elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. A former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group which fought for social justice in the 1970s and '80s, Petro has undertaken controversial peace negotiations with the country's remaining rebel groups while pushing for social and economic reforms that include an overhaul of the nation’s labor laws. Other WRAL Top Stories He also has broken with previous Colombian leaders in his approach to foreign affairs by challenging the United States in areas like anti-drug policy and immigration while maintaining some co-operation with the …

Colombians to vote in high-stakes test of President Gustavo Petro’s agenda Colombia will elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. A former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group which fought for social justice in the 1970s and '80s, Petro has undertaken controversial peace negotiations with the country's remaining rebel groups while pushing for social and economic reforms that include an overhaul of the nation’s labor laws.

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…

Colombia 2026 Runoff: U.S. Partnership at Stake | Legis1 The June 21Colombia 2026 presidential electionbetween right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella and left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda comes with high stakes for the Trump administration's foreign policy directives, and the 119th Congress. The runoff will determine whether one of Washington's most consequential Latin American partnerships gets rebuilt or remains mired in sanctions, visa revocations, and mutual recrimination. The central tension lies in the fact that the Petro era frayed nearly every security and economic tie between the U.S. and Colombia, effectively destroying a once-operational diplomatic partnership. Whoever takes office August 7 will inherit a bilateral relationship that is functional in name only. Colombia held its first-round election on May 31, 2026. De la Espriella, a criminal defense lawyer and political outsider, drew 44 percent of the vote, outperforming polls and finishing ahead of Cepeda's 41 percent. Colombian authorities certified those results on June 4. International observers called the process orderly and transparent, despite outgoing President Gustavo Petro's fraud claims. After a delay, …

Colombian presidency goes to runoff election that could redefine ... - CNN Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the political movement Defenders of the Homeland shows his ballot at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Barranquilla, Colombia May 31, 2026. Sergio Acero/Reuters South America See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow Summary A pro-Trump right-wing outsider and a leftist ally of President Gustavo Petro will compete in Colombia's presidential runoff. Abelardo de la Espriella led the first round while Senator Iván Cepeda secured second place. The results of the June runoff could redefine Colombia's relationship with the United States and its approach to drug trafficking. AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor. Sigue la cobertura en español Bogota, Colombia — In a surprisingly strong performance, right-wing outsider candidate Abelardo de la Espriella will face leftist candidate senator Iván Cepeda in a June runoff election to decide Colombia’s presidency, setting the stage for a battle over the country’s political future and the direction of its relationships with key intern…

NPR National News Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings NPR | By John Otis Published June 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:14 Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Updated June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM CDT LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wi…