Colombia heads to runoff amid low blows and extreme polarization

Colombia stands on the brink of a presidential runoff election, deeply divided between two starkly opposing political blocs. The race, set for Sunday, is characterized by extreme polarization, reaching levels not seen in nearly four decades. The latest polls indicate a tight contest, with right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella of Defensores de la Patria holding a slight lead at 48.6% of voter intention, while the establishment candidate Iván Cepeda of Pacto Histórico garners 44.7%.

A significant 6.7% of voters remain undecided or intend to cast a blank vote, making this segment a crucial target for both campaigns. The increasingly aggressive tone of the campaign, particularly since the field narrowed to two contenders, has fueled public anxiety. De la Espriella and Cepeda have engaged in fierce verbal and legal battles, raising fears of heightened post-election tensions.

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The left wants to instill fear so that people don't vote for Abelardo. Politics doesn't interest me, but I do want to live in peace, for my family to be in peace, and with a government like Petro's, which has photos posing with guerrillas, that is not possible.

Supporters of De la Espriella express concerns about security and peace under a potential Cepeda presidency, drawing parallels to the previous administration. One voter, Hernando, 56, stated his desire for peace for his family, suggesting that a government associated with figures like President Petro, who has been photographed with guerrillas, could jeopardize this. This sentiment reflects a broader fear among right-leaning voters about a potential return to what they perceive as the country's troubled past.

Conversely, Cepeda has not shied away from strong accusations against his opponent. He has labeled De la Espriella an "impostor," "misogynist," and "homophobe," warning of a "return to the parapolitical, drug-trafficking, mafia, plutocratic, and corrupt past" of Colombia. Cepeda has escalated the dispute by filing complaints against De la Espriella with the Colombian Prosecutor's Office and the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity dating back over two decades. The election outcome is expected to significantly shape the country's immediate future.

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It represents the return to the parapolitical, drug-trafficking, mafia, plutocratic, and corrupt past of the country.