Far Right Outsider Advances in Colombia’s Presidential Election

Colombia’s intensely contested presidential election led to a runoff, highlighting the influence of a far-right candidate. Preliminary official results indicated a significant shift toward right-wing politics in Latin America.

Abelardo de la Espriella advanced in the election and will compete against Iván Cepeda, a senator from the outgoing president Gustavo Petro’s left-wing party.

De la Espriella emerged late in the campaign. His political style mirrors other populist leaders in Latin America, such as Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. They share a hard-line stance on crime similar to former President Trump and intend to enforce this on drug traffickers.

With over 99 percent of the votes counted, the national civil registry data displayed a nation divided. De la Espriella received 43.73 percent of the vote, while Cepeda secured 40.91 percent. As neither gathered more than 50 percent, a runoff is scheduled for June 21.

On Sunday evening, President Petro expressed skepticism about the preliminary results. He announced he would wait for an official count before acknowledging them.

Cepeda, a veteran human rights advocate, has maintained extensive support for Petro’s political agenda. This agenda prioritizes disadvantaged communities, historically underrepresented in governance. Petro’s presidency is limited to one term.