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In a surprisingly strong performance, right-wing outsider candidate Abelardo de la Espriella will face leftist candidate senator Iván Cepeda in a runoff to decide Colombia’s presidency, setting the stage for a battle over Colombia’s political future and the direction of its relationships with key international partners, including the United States.
With more than 98% of the votes counted de la Espriella won the most ballots with 43.73% of the vote, falling short of the absolute majority required to win outright in the first round. Cepeda, representing the left-wing Historic Pact coalition, was in second place with 40.91%. The first-round vote left Democratic Center candidate Paloma Valencia trailing well behind with 6.91%, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. The 46-year-old represented the Democratic Center party founded by former President Álvaro Uribe and became the first woman to win the party’s presidential nomination.
The runoff, scheduled for June 21, will pit two sharply contrasting political visions against each other in what is expected to be a highly polarized race.
Who are the candidates heading to the runoff
