Iván Cepeda rallies thousands in final campaign push before Colombia runoff

Leftist presidential candidate Iván Cepeda rallied thousands of supporters in Bogotá on Saturday, marking the close of his campaign just a week before the crucial runoff election. Cepeda, an ally of current President Gustavo Petro, is set to face right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in a contest that has captured national attention.

“

We are going to govern above all with the people, with social movements, with popular organizations.

While Cepeda was a frontrunner in the initial May vote, he unexpectedly finished second to De la Espriella, an unconventional lawyer known for his admiration of Donald Trump. The upcoming runoff presents a stark ideological choice for Colombia's voters.

"We are going to govern above all with the people, with social movements, with popular organizations," Cepeda declared in a passionate speech to the assembled crowd. Chants of "You can see it, you can feel it, Cepeda president" echoed through the capital, accompanied by drums, musical instruments, and flags from Colombia, Palestine, and indigenous movements.

“

You can see it, you can feel it, Cepeda president.

Supporters like Camila Cristancho, a 35-year-old publicist, attended the rally to voice their support. "I am here as a diverse and lesbian woman, as the wife of a trans man," she told AFP, emphasizing that "rights we thought were basic" are at stake in this election. She conveyed feelings of "sadness" and "anguish" at the prospect of a De la Espriella victory.

“

I am here as a diverse and lesbian woman, as the wife of a trans man.

Carlos Rocca, a 72-year-old musician, warned against "dark, fascist forces," characterizing De la Espriella as representing a "regression of everything" Petro achieved. He highlighted Petro's presidency as the first for a leftist in Colombia, noting efforts to reduce poverty and negotiate peace, though acknowledging the latter was unsuccessful.

“

rights we thought were basic are at stake in this election.