Following a campaign overshadowed by political violence, a tight presidential election on May 31 led Colombia into a runoff vote on June 21.
With neither the right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espreilla nor the leftist veteran Ivan Cepeda securing the 50% necessary for the presidential post, the vote sent a clear message: Colombia is polarized between continuity and change.
A bellwether as well as somewhat of a laggard to regional socio-political fracturing, the presidential election represents one of the most consequential votes in the region, as it sits at the intersection of Colombia’s security crisis, its future positioning in a geopolitically competitive hemisphere and Latin America's political realignment.
Referendum on leftist legacy
The political center has been almost entirely displaced by polarized views of leftist President Gustavo Petro’s legacy and competing visions for Colombia’s future.
