Leftist Cepeda votes, confident of comeback in Colombia election

Senator Iván Cepeda, the presidential candidate for Colombia's leftist Pacto Histórico coalition, cast his vote in Bogotá, expressing confidence in his ability to achieve a comeback victory in the election's second round. Cepeda is competing against far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella to succeed current President Gustavo Petro.

Cepeda arrived at the polling station accompanied by key allies, including former minister Susana Muhamad and Senator María José Pizarro. He described his campaign as "clean, transparent, and honest," emphasizing that his platform and vision for Colombia have been clearly presented to the public.

The leftist candidate aims to surpass his first-round performance of 9.6 million votes (40.9%) against De la Espriella's 10.3 million (43.7%). Cepeda thanked his supporters for participating in the democratic process and urged for a peaceful and serene election day.

"I want to extend an invitation for this day to proceed in a calm, serene manner, and for there to be democratic behavior, respect for democracy, and respect for politics conducted transparently," Cepeda told reporters. He also advised his voters against engaging in aggressive behavior, stressing the importance of respecting diverse opinions and the right to act differently in Colombia.

Cepeda announced that the Pacto Histórico has deployed a comprehensive operation of electoral witnesses and lawyers to monitor the vote count. While pledging to recognize the results, he affirmed the party's commitment to meticulous observation and to taking action if any irregularities are detected within the electoral system.