THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Trump-backed candidate wins razor-tight Colombia presidential vote A flamboyant US-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia’s presidential run-off on Sunday, swinging the country hard to the right on a promise to wage war against drug-running guerrilla groups. With more than 99 per cent of polling centres reporting, Abelardo de la Espriella had 49.65 per cent of the vote, an unassailable lead over his rival, left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda who trailed at 48.70 per cent, according to official results. Cepeda said on Sunday he will await...

Colombian right-‌wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella looks poised to win the country's ‌presidential race, notching just under 50 per cent of the vote, with nearly ‌95 per cent of ballot boxes counted. Data from the country's national registry office on Sunday shows his rival, the leftist Ivan Cepeda, was some 368,000 votes behind with 48.4 per cent. De La Espriella, 47, has proposed a tough crackdown ‌on crime, as well ‌as ⁠the end to peace talks with armed ​groups and a boost to Colombia's oil and gas sector. Cepeda, 63, has vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, which include state pension payments ⁠for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, ‌peace ​talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades and ​a moratorium ‌on new oil projects. De La Espriella blames Petro for the country's ​economic and security woes and has vowed to lower taxes and reduce the size of the state by up to ​40 per cent, ​but has said he ​will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the ‌minimum wage, along with other popular social measures. Whoever wins will grapple with high public debt and a divided C…

Ahead of Colombia's elections, 'Latin America overall is going to the right' In the lead-up to Colombia's presidential elections, François Picard is pleased to welcome Renata Segura, Program Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Crisis Group. "What we're seeing in this election are two options that are very different from past elections," explains Segura. As Colombians focus heavily on security issues, De la Espriella's "mano dura" resonates with the electorate.

Trump Called Iván Cepeda a ‘Radical Left Marxist.’ Can He Be Colombia’s President? Iván Cepeda’s campaign jumped into high gear after a right-wing outsider won the most votes during the first round of voting.

Colombia's escalating, brutal internal conflict is defining its presidential election A left-wing senator who backs talks with armed gangs faces an outsider endorsed by Trump.

Colombia holds first round of presidential election amid allegations of fraud, foreign interference Colombia's pro-Donald Trump candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella has won the first round of the country's presidential election to face left-leaning senator Iván Cepeda in the upcoming runoff.

Tense election night in Colombia as country heads to presidential runoff Colombia’s election heads to a June 21 runoff after a tight first round between de la Espriella and Cepeda.

High-stakes Colombia vote sees Trump-backed hardliner face leftist senator Voters in Colombia will choose a new president Sunday as hard-right White House-backed lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella faces leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in a high-stakes vote that will decide the fate of the country's stumbling peace process and strained ties with Washington.

Celebration, shock and scepticism follow Colombia’s presidential election Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella beat left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda in the first round, upending expectations.

Colombia set for runoff vote after tight presidential poll With vote counting underway in Colombia, right wing outsider Abelardo de la Espreilla seems set to face veteran leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda in the second round of the presidential election.

Trump admirer’s surprise first-round win is a blow to Colombia’s traditional conservatives <p>Success of far-right presidential candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella, suggests some voters are ‘fed up with politics’</p><p>The far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and the leftwing senator Iván Cepeda have just under three weeks to compete for the roughly 3.6m votes that did not go to either of them in the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday.</p><p>That is no insignificant margin, given that De la Espriella’s lead over Cepeda amounted to little more than 670,000 votes – 43.7% against 40.9%.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/01/trump-admirer-abelardo-de-la-espriella-election-win-blow-to-colombia-conservatives">Continue reading...</a>

Colombians vote for president amid corruption fears, polarisation A deeply divided electorate will choose Colombia’s next president in a run-off on Sunday that pits a progressive against a conservative outsider, with both candidates tapping into fears of renewed internal conflict in the country. Voters will choose between businessman and lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda, a lawmaker and heir to the political movement of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, the nation’s first leftist leader. The two defeated nine other contenders in a May 31...

Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella has clinched a narrow victory in the presidential election, according ‌to an initial ballot count, as voters bet on his Donald Trump-endorsed promise of a crackdown on crime and a stronger economy. De La Espriella had 49.66 per cent of the vote while his rival, Senator Ivan Cepeda, trailed by some 250,000 votes at ‌48.70 per cent, according to an initial tally of the runoff election from the country's national registrar on Sunday. Cepeda, 63, had vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, including state pension payments for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, a moratorium on new oil ‌projects, and peace talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades. De La Espriella has blamed Petro for the country's economic and security troubles and has vowed to end talks with rebels and criminal groups, while boosting the oil and gas sector, lowering taxes and reducing the size of the state by up to 40 per cent. He has said, however, that he will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the minimum wage, along with other popular social measure…

Colombia presidential runoff pits leftist senator against pro-Trump rival Left-wing senator Iván Cepeda will face Trump admirer Abelardo de la Espriella at the final ballot on 21 June.

Colombia elections take place as Abelardo de la Espriella leads polls Colombians are voting in an election where senator Ivan Cepeda is racing against Abelardo de la Espriella.

Trump-backed de la Espriella or leftist Cepeda? Colombians elect a new president Colombians are heading to the polls this Sunday to elect a new president. The frontrunner is Abelardo de la Esperiella. He has vowed to return to full-scale military confrontation with armed groups. His challenger is leftwing senator Iván Cepeda, he argues for modifying the current peace plan, which seeks disarmament through negotiations. Six decades of conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people, and each candidate has a starkly different vision on how to end it… Analysis by Mariano Aguirre Ernst, associate fellow at Chatam House's International Security Programme.

Colombia’s far-right presidential candidate Espriella wins first round of vote ahead of runoff <p>Lawyer and Trump admirer has risen rapidly in the polls and will face Iván Cepeda in election runoff in three weeks</p><p>The far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday and will face senator Iván Cepeda, the candidate backed by leftwing president Gustavo Petro, in the runoff.</p><p>With 99.9% of ballots counted, the outsider and Donald Trump admirer Espriella secured 43.7% of the vote – just over 10.3m votes – compared with 40.9% (about 9.6m votes) for Cepeda, a philosopher and human rights activist who has served as a senator since 2014.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/01/colombia-far-right-presidential-candidate-espriella-wins-first-round-of-vote-ahead-of-election-runoff">Continue reading...</a>

Colombia’s runoff election expected to trigger shift in decades-long armed conflict <p>Frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to return to full-scale military confrontation with armed groups </p><p>Colombians go to the polls on Sunday in a presidential runoff expected to trigger to a dramatic shift in the country’s decades-long armed conflict, now at its most violent point since the landmark 2016 peace agreement between the government and most of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).</p><p>Polls show the frontrunner is the Trump-admiring far-right lawyer and millionaire businessman Abelardo de la Espriella, who has vowed to abandon President Gustavo Petro’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/29/colombia-election-total-peace-promise-violence">“total peace” plan</a> of negotiating the disarmament of all criminal organisations and instead return to full-scale military confrontation with armed groups.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/21/colombias-runoff-election-expected-to-trigger-shift-in-decades-long-armed-conflict">Continue reading...</a>

Colombia's escalating, brutal internal conflict is defining its presidential election A left-wing senator who backs talks with armed gangs faces an outsider endorsed by Trump.

Polls open in Colombia’s pivotal presidential election Colombians headed to the polls to choose a new president in a high-stakes election.

Colombia’s outsider candidate defied the polls Far-right outsider, Abelardo de la Espriella, will face leftist senator, Ivan Cepeda on June 21.

Trump-backed de la Espriella holds razor-thin lead in Colombia's election as rival challenges vote <p>Political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella holds a razor-thin lead in Colombia’s presidential election with nearly all the votes counted, in a runoff vote marked by people’s fears of a renewed internal conflict.</p>

Live: Colombia heads to the polls to elect President Gustavo Petro's successor Colombians vote on Sunday for what is likely to be a first round of presidential elections to choose between a reformist left wing seeking to retain power following a historic victory four years ago and a hard-line right wing promising greater security in the face of escalating violence by armed groups. Polls show left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, leading the first round. Follow FRANCE 24's coverage and election results with our team based in Bogota.

Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella has clinched a narrow victory in the presidential election, according ‌to an initial ballot count, as voters bet on his Donald Trump-endorsed promise of a crackdown on crime and a stronger economy. De La Espriella had 49.66 per cent of the vote while his rival, Senator Ivan Cepeda, trailed by some 250,000 votes at ‌48.70 per cent, according to an initial tally of the runoff election from the country's national registrar on Sunday. Cepeda, 63, had vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, including state pension payments for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, a moratorium on new oil ‌projects, and peace talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades. De La Espriella has blamed Petro for the country's economic and security troubles and has vowed to end talks with rebels and criminal groups, while boosting the oil and gas sector, lowering taxes and reducing the size of the state by up to 40 per cent. He has said, however, that he will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the minimum wage, along with other popular social measure…

Cepeda, de la Espriella advance in Colombia’s presidential election The left-wing senator and far-right newcomer will face each other in a runoff on June 21, with security a top issue.

Colombia's far right eyes landslide amid fears Petro will reject runoff result <p> <img src="https://en.mercopress.com/data/cache/noticias/110465/100x80/a-zqqtlh.jpg" alt="In the first round on May 31, De la Espriella won about 10.3 million votes (43.74%) and Cepeda roughly 9.7 million (40.9%), a margin of under three points that sent both men to the runoff" width="100" height="80" style="float:left;margin:0 12px 6px 0;border:1px solid #333" /> The campaign of Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, is aiming for a decisive win in the June 21 runoff to shield the outcome from possible challenges, his campaign chief said.</p>

Colombian right-‌wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella looks poised to win the country's ‌presidential race, notching just under 50 per cent of the vote, with nearly ‌95 per cent of ballot boxes counted. Data from the country's national registry office on Sunday shows his rival, the leftist Ivan Cepeda, was some 368,000 votes behind with 48.4 per cent. De La Espriella, 47, has proposed a tough crackdown ‌on crime, as well ‌as ⁠the end to peace talks with armed ​groups and a boost to Colombia's oil and gas sector. Cepeda, 63, has vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, which include state pension payments ⁠for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, ‌peace ​talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades and ​a moratorium ‌on new oil projects. De La Espriella blames Petro for the country's ​economic and security woes and has vowed to lower taxes and reduce the size of the state by up to ​40 per cent, ​but has said he ​will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the ‌minimum wage, along with other popular social measures. Whoever wins will grapple with high public debt and a divided C…

Colombia's escalating, brutal internal conflict is defining its presidential election A left-wing senator who backs talks with armed gangs faces an outsider endorsed by Trump.

Colombia’s High-Stakes Election: What to Know About the Candidates, Issues and Expected Results Iván Cepeda, left, and Abelardo De La Espriella will face off on Sunday in a presidential runoff election in Colombia.

Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella has clinched a narrow victory in the presidential election, according ‌to an initial ballot count, as voters bet on his Donald Trump-endorsed promise of a crackdown on crime and a stronger economy. De La Espriella had 49.66 per cent of the vote while his rival, Senator Ivan Cepeda, trailed by some 250,000 votes at ‌48.70 per cent, according to an initial tally of the runoff election from the country's national registrar on Sunday. Cepeda, 63, had vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, including state pension payments for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, a moratorium on new oil ‌projects, and peace talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades. De La Espriella has blamed Petro for the country's economic and security troubles and has vowed to end talks with rebels and criminal groups, while boosting the oil and gas sector, lowering taxes and reducing the size of the state by up to 40 per cent. He has said, however, that he will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the minimum wage, along with other popular social measure…

Pro-Trump candidate takes lead in Colombia's presidential race Pro-Trump lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella has taken the lead in Colombia’s presidential race after the first round of elections over the weekend BOGOTA, Colombia --Bombastic pro-Trump lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella pulled ahead inColombia’s presidential racein the first round of elections over the weekend, capitalizing on a growing appetite for crackdowns on criminal groups acrossLatin America. Second-place finisher, progressive Sen. Iván Cepeda, and his ally, PresidentGustavo Petro, have questioned the election results, without providing evidence. Cepeda on Monday called on de la Espriella to debate him ahead of their June 21 runoff. De la Espriella replied on X: “Are you ready, coward? … First, acknowledge the election results and let’s debate right now.” De la Espriella rapidly gained traction ahead of Sunday’s election and won nearly 44% of the vote. Cepeda, who had consistently led polling, won less than 41%. In the runoff, De la Espriella is expected to scoop up additional votes from Colombians who supported other conservative candidates in the first round. Cepeda will face an uphill battle, said Sergio Gu…

Colombia presidential runoff pits leftist senator against pro-Trump rival Left-wing senator Iván Cepeda will face Trump admirer Abelardo de la Espriella at the final ballot on 21 June.

Right-wing candidate pulls ahead in first round of Colombia's presidential vote Tough-on-crime outsider Aberaldo de la Espriella took the lead in Colombia's presidential race on Sunday night, setting up a runoff with Iván Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

Colombia chooses President amid surge in guerrilla violence Pre-election polls showed left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda leading, but facing a strong challenge from hard-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, a pro-Trump outsider.

Continuity or change? What to know about Colombia’s run-off election Far-right Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist Ivan Cepeda compete for the presidency on starkly different platforms.

Colombians to vote in presidential run-off pitting leftist against hardliner Run-off election sees leftist Ivan Cepeda and conservative Abelardo de la Espriella vying for the presidency.

Who is Ivan Cepeda, left-wing candidate in Colombia's presidential elections? Colombians are heading to the polls this Sunday for the second round of the presidential election. Up against the far-right Abelardo de la Espriella, the left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda is the political heir to outgoing president Gustavo Petro. Report by Rodrigo Sedano and Aitor Chavarri, narrated by Juliette Brown.

A Legacy in Dispute - Phenomenal World In the second round of Colombia’s presidential election this Sunday, the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella will face off against the ruling party’s left-wing candidate, Iván Cepeda, following a campaign marked by aggressive rhetoric. De la Espriella received the most votes in the first round, a surprise in an election in which Cepeda led for much of the race. Unknown until recently in traditional circles of power, De la Espriella is a lawyer who turned his legal and media defense of controversial figures into political capital. (Notably, he provided legal representation to Alex Saab, the businessman who for years was identified by investigative journalists and authorities in several countries as one of the main financial operators of the Maduro regime.) Throughout his career, he has served as a sort of devil’s advocate, representing politicians linked to parapolitics, the alliance between politicians and right-wing paramilitaries that took place during former President Álvaro Uribe’s administration. De la Espriella’s family has maintained political ties to Uribe’s inner circle since the early 2000s. His father was one of the firs…

Colombian voters weigh economic reforms against right-wing crackdown Colombians will cast ballots on Sunday in what is likely to be the first round of a presidential election, choosing between a leftist pledging to expand reforms begun by the current government, an ‌independent businessman promising a security crackdown and a right-wing senator seeking to become the country’s first female leader. Leftist Ivan Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator, is leading opinion polls, but looks likely to fall well short of the 50 per cent-plus support needed to avoid a June run-off....

Ghost of far-right paramilitaries hovers over Colombia’s presidential runoff vote <p>Colombians will choose on Sunday between two men whose lives have been very differently shaped by the militias, and whose visions for the country are poles apart</p><p>Whoever wins Sunday’s presidential runoff vote in Colombia, the country’s next leader will have a personal history intertwined with one of the criminal forces at the heart of a decades-long armed conflict that claimed nearly half a million lives.</p><p>The lives of Iván Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella have, in very different ways, been shaped by their relationship with Colombia’s paramilitaries – private armies originally established by rightwing landowners, drug traffickers, businessmen, mining magnates and politicians to fight leftwing guerrilla groups.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/20/colombia-presidential-election-paramilitary-militia-runoff">Continue reading...</a>

How to handle armed groups? Colombians vote in presidential election Colombians are heading to the polls Sunday. With current president Gustavo Petro stepping down, the search for his successor is seen as a referendum on his leftist social policies and response to growing violence in the country. Left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda, who says he will continue pursuing peace accords with armed groups, is leading in the polls. But he faces stark opposition from the more hawkish right. Trump-loving millionaire lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, who comes from one of Colombia's most important conservative dynasties, both favor harsher crackdowns on guerrilla groups. Details by Caroline Baum.

Colombians head to the polls to choose President Gustavo Petro’s successor The contest is largely a three-horse race between a left-wing senator, a businessman and a right-wing lawmaker.

Colombia's runoff: a united right behind De la Espriella faces a divided left <p> <img src="https://en.mercopress.com/data/cache/noticias/110416/100x80/cac.jpg" alt="The left, which had made unity the axis of its campaign in 2025, went through the week with internal tensions" width="100" height="80" style="float:left;margin:0 12px 6px 0;border:1px solid #333" /> The first of the three campaign weeks ahead of Colombia's presidential runoff, set for June 21, has been marked by a contrast: a right that had failed to unite for the first round ended up aligned behind far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, while the left of Senator Iván Cepeda and President Gustavo Petro has struggled to coordinate its effort. De la Espriella was the most-voted candidate on May 31, with 43.74% against Cepeda's 40.90%.</p>

Colombians vote in Presidential runoff Up to 41 million voters will choose between frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella and his leftist rival Ivan Cepeda — the latest in a series of hyper-polarized Latin American elections.

Colombia: Polls open in tight presidential election Surveys are predicting a close, three-way race between a veteran leftist candidate, a right-wing senator and an independent businessman, which is likely to go to a second-round run-off.

Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella has clinched a narrow victory in the presidential election, according ‌to an initial ballot count, as voters bet on his Donald Trump-endorsed promise of a crackdown on crime and a stronger economy. De La Espriella had 49.66 per cent of the vote while his rival, Senator Ivan Cepeda, trailed by some 250,000 votes at ‌48.70 per cent, according to an initial tally of the runoff election from the country's national registrar on Sunday. Cepeda, 63, had vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, including state pension payments for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, a moratorium on new oil ‌projects, and peace talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades. De La Espriella has blamed Petro for the country's economic and security troubles and has vowed to end talks with rebels and criminal groups, while boosting the oil and gas sector, lowering taxes and reducing the size of the state by up to 40 per cent. He has said, however, that he will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the minimum wage, along with other popular social measure…

Colombia right-wing candidate De La Espriella has lead in tight presidential race Whoever wins will grapple with high public debt ⁠and a divided Congress, which could stymie reform ⁠proposals

Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella has clinched a narrow victory in the presidential election, according ‌to an initial ballot count, as voters bet on his Donald Trump-endorsed promise of a crackdown on crime and a stronger economy. De La Espriella had 49.66 per cent of the vote while his rival, Senator Ivan Cepeda, trailed by some 250,000 votes at ‌48.70 per cent, according to an initial tally of the runoff election from the country's national registrar on Sunday. Cepeda, 63, had vowed to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and the country's first leftist president, including state pension payments for the poor, union-backed labour reforms, a moratorium on new oil ‌projects, and peace talks with armed groups that have fought the state for decades. De La Espriella has blamed Petro for the country's economic and security troubles and has vowed to end talks with rebels and criminal groups, while boosting the oil and gas sector, lowering taxes and reducing the size of the state by up to 40 per cent. He has said, however, that he will preserve Petro's 23 per cent increase in the minimum wage, along with other popular social measure…

Video: Presidential election has Colombia on edge Abelardo de la Espriella will face left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda in the run-off for Colombia’s presidential election.

Colombia's 'El Tigre' secures presidency as leftist rival finally concedes defeat After initially challenging the results, Colombia&apos;s leftist candidate conceded a razor-thin loss to conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella.

Pro-Trump and leftist candidates head to presidential runoff in Colombia vote Colombian right-wing pro6trump candidate Abelardo De La Espriella is set to compete in a runoff election for president against leftist Ivan Cepeda, results from an initial round of voting showed on Sunday, as Cepeda and his allies said they would wait for counts to be formally confirmed.

De la Espriella leads Colombia's runoff with contained triumphalism as Cepeda hopes for a late surge <p> <img src="https://en.mercopress.com/data/cache/noticias/110541/100x80/col.jpg" alt="The first-round margin does not look comfortable heading into the runoff" width="100" height="80" style="float:left;margin:0 12px 6px 0;border:1px solid #333" /> Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella heads into Colombia's presidential runoff, set for this Sunday, June 21, as the favorite, though with contained triumphalism, while left-wing senator Iván Cepeda trusts that a late push can still overturn the result. Both campaigns sense the election is closer than the polls reflect.</p>

Colombians vote in a presidential runoff that pits an outsider against a ... Colombian presidential contenders voted in a closely fought presidential runoff Sunday between a progressive and a conservative outsider. (AP video by Samuel Sotomayor, Cesar Olmos and Astrid Suarez) On Sunday Colombian voters will decide between the status quo and a move to the right. (AP/ Samuel Sotomayor) Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the opposition Defenders of the Motherland movement and his vice-presidential running mate, Jose Manuel Restrepo, ride in a bulletproof booth toward a celebration rally after election results showed him leading in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) A supporter of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the opposition Defenders of the Motherland movement light a flare at a celebration rally after polls closed in the runoff election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) A voter marks his ballot in a classroom decorated with flags of countries participating in the World Cup serving as a polling station during the presidential runoff election in Santander de Quilichao, Co…

Trump-backed 'El Tigre' looks to crush cartels, end Colombia's socialist era in pivotal election Abelardo de la Espriella, known as El Tigre, rides voter frustration over crime and cartels in Colombia&apos;s high-stakes presidential runoff election.

Abelardo De La Espriella, Right-Wing Outsider, Could Be Colombia’s Next President A campaign rally last month in Medellín, Colombia, for Abelardo De La Espriella, the right-wing presidential candidate.

LIVE | Colombia Presidential Runoff: Final hours of voting Abelardo de la Espriella, a hard-line right-wing candidate, and Ivan Cepeda, an ally of Colombia’s first left-wing government, face off in the presidential election's second round on Sunday. Their duel will determine whether the country takes a radical turn or stays its current course amid resurging violence between armed groups. Follow the election live with FRANCE 24’s Bogota-based team.

Colombia's Right-Wing Offensive and the Politics of Order - Jacobin A s Colombia heads toward a high-stakes presidential runoff this coming Sunday, left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda and far-right millionaire lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella have ramped up efforts to reach the handful of voters that could tip the balance. One ubiquitous symbol on both sides of the fight is the national soccer jersey. De la Espriella, like Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro before him, has made the shirt his signature look in recent weeks, in a bid to appeal to a popular right-wing base. Critics argued that the national team’s jersey belongs to all Colombians and shouldn’t be appropriated by any one political movement. The Colombian Football Federation responded by insisting that it, and the national team, should stay outside politics. The dispute became so intense that a judge in the capital, Bogotá, ordered de la Espriella to stop using the national team’s official shirt in campaign activities. Brushing off the ruling, his rival Cepeda’s supporters also began wearing the yellow jersey, reclaiming the shirt as their own. In a recent viral video , Carlos Lehder — the former leader of the Medellín cartel and drug lo…

Security and social reform dominate Colombia’s presidential race Colombia is heading into a high-stakes presidential election on Sunday, amid rising violence, inflation, and deep political division. Voters will choose between continuing left-wing social reforms under Ivan Cepeda, a centrist-right shift led by Paloma Valencia, or a hardline security agenda from Abelardo De La Espriella, with a possible runoff if no candidate wins outright.