Colombia’s presidential election is heading to a June 21 runoff between far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist Senator Iván Cepeda after neither contender secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round.
With all ballots counted, de la Espriella finished first with 43.74 percent, while Cepeda came in second with 40.90 percent, according to the results. Paloma Valencia, a prominent hard-right figure, received 6.92 percent, followed by center-left candidate Sergio Fajardo with 4.26 percent. Claudia López secured 0.95 percent, while Raúl Santiago Botero Jaramillo received 0.87 percent.
De la Espriella Says Colombia Will “Make History”
Speaking to supporters in Barranquilla, de la Espriella presented the second round as a decisive moment for Colombia.
“In 21 days, we will make history,” he said ahead of the runoff. “We will defend democracy either through reason or through force,” he added.
De la Espriella also targeted his second-round rival, calling Cepeda a “puppet” of outgoing President Gustavo Petro.
Cepeda stops short of recognizing Colombia’s presidential election results
Cepeda, speaking to supporters in Bogotá, stopped short of recognizing the results, citing reports of irregularities at some polling stations.
“Only after the counting committees fully clarify these issues will we make an announcement regarding the results,” he said.
The leftist senator also called on Colombia’s youth to support his campaign. “We will not hand Colombia over to fascism,” Cepeda said.
Petro questions First-Round count
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro also questioned the first-round vote count, saying he would wait for judicial authorities to certify the results.
Petro claimed that “hundreds of thousands of ballots” had been counted from voters who were not registered, adding to tensions ahead of the June 21 runoff.
El llamado conteo transmitido no tiene fuerza vinculante. sus datos no son norma pública. Como presidente no acepto los resultados del preconteo de la firma privada de los hermanos Bautista, porque debiendo estar quietos los algoritmos del software de conteo y escrutinios, en la…
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 1, 2026
De la Espriella promises hard line on crime
A lawyer and businessman, de la Espriella has never held elected office. His political style and policy proposals have been compared to those of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
The 47-year-old millionaire has pledged to take a hard line against rebel groups and gangs. He has promised to build 10 massive prisons and reduce poverty by improving education, health care, and housing for Colombia’s poorest citizens.
Cepeda pledges peace talks in Colombia’s presidential election
Cepeda, 63, is a senator and the son of an assassinated communist leader. He has promised to pursue peace through negotiations with rebel groups, a policy that did not deliver the expected results under Petro’s administration.
He has also proposed reforms aimed at reducing inequality and poverty. His platform includes increasing taxes on high earners, granting land to victims of Colombia’s six-decade armed conflict, and expanding health care coverage across the population.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
