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Colombia runoff: Ex-candidate López backs neither finalist
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Colombia runoff: Ex-candidate López backs neither finalist

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Ex-presidential candidate Claudia López announced she will not support either of the two candidates advancing to Colombia's second round of elections.
  • López criticized both ultraconservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist Iván Cepeda, calling them a danger to democracy.
  • She cited de la Espriella's alleged ties to organized crime and Cepeda's association with the current president's controversial proposal for a constituent assembly as reasons for her refusal to endorse either.

Former presidential candidate Claudia López has declared she will not back either of the two contenders heading to Colombia's presidential runoff election. López, who represents a centrist political stance, stated on social media that she would not vote for ultraconservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella nor for leftist Iván Cepeda.

I am not going to vote for Abelardo de la Espriella, but let no one believe that I will automatically vote for Iván Cepeda.

— Claudia LópezThe former presidential candidate announced her decision on social media.

López, who secured just under 1% of the vote in the initial election, expressed strong criticism of both candidates. She labeled de la Espriella, a "defender of the mafia," as a potential "puppet" of the United States, particularly after President Donald Trump publicly endorsed his campaign. Cepeda, representing the ruling Pacto Histórico party, was deemed "inviable" by López due to his continued association with President Gustavo Petro and his administration's push for a National Constituent Assembly, a proposal met with widespread rejection in the country.

"By default, facing the danger of Abelardo de la Espriella, I will not vote for Iván Cepeda," López reiterated. She also recalled her past support for Petro in the 2018 and 2022 elections, noting that she has only received "attacks" in return. This experience, she explained, justified her decision not to endorse the candidate representing the continuity of the current government.

By default, facing the danger of Abelardo de la Espriella, I will not vote for Iván Cepeda.

— Claudia LópezShe reiterated her stance on not supporting either candidate in the upcoming runoff.

Other centrist and independent candidates, such as Sergio Fajardo and Juan Daniel Oviedo, also defeated in the first round, have similarly opted against publicly endorsing either finalist. Oviedo emphasized the autonomy of voters, stating, "The majority of Colombians already know what they will do on June 21, and I have to respect that." He urged the campaign to focus on proposals and called for more debates between the two remaining candidates.

The majority of Colombians already know what they will do on June 21, and I have to respect that.

— Juan Daniel OviedoAnother defeated centrist candidate commented on voter autonomy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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