Colombian voters face stark choice in presidential runoff

Colombia's political landscape is sharply divided, leading to a presidential election runoff on June 21 between Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda. In the first round, which featured 13 candidates, Espriella secured nearly 44% of the vote, while Cepeda garnered just over 40%.

Espriella, an independent candidate formally backed by the far-right Movement for National Salvation (MSN), represents a political force that has had little influence at the national level. He is described as a millionaire lawyer who admires Donald Trump, advocates for a free-market economy, a strong state hand, and opposes abortion rights. His background includes being born into Colombia's elite and having a penchant for weapons and hunting.

Cepeda, a candidate for the left-wing Historical Pact (PH), comes from a politically active family. His father was a leader of the Communist Party, and Cepeda himself lived in Cuba and studied philosophy in communist Bulgaria. The PH coalition won a majority in the lower house of parliament in March and has formed a minority government. Current President Gustavo Petro, the first left-wing president of Colombia and a member of PH, is known for his progressive policies that have improved living standards. His support for Cepeda is considered natural.

The election results defied some pre-election polls, which had consistently predicted a lead for Cepeda and had not always placed Espriella in the second round. The stark ideological differences between the two finalists underscore the deep polarization within Colombia, a nation of nearly 53 million people with a presidential system where the president also serves as prime minister.