Overview
- Abelardo de la Espriella, who finished narrowly ahead in the May 31 first round, leads polls as voters prepare for the June 21 runoff against leftist Iván Cepeda.
- Courts briefly barred de la Espriella from using Colombia’s yellow national football jersey for campaigning before lifting the order, and he has encouraged supporters to wear the shirt on election day.
- President Donald Trump and several regional right-wing leaders publicly endorsed de la Espriella, increasing international attention and pressure on the result.
- Cepeda has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing de la Espriella of links to paramilitary groups, while the campaign has seen violent rhetoric, dehumanizing insults and widespread AI-driven disinformation.
- De la Espriella’s platform calls for drastic state cuts, dollarization, new high-security prisons and dismantling the JEP transitional-justice body, a shift that analysts say could affect peace processes, social programs and Colombia’s international ties.