Colombia presidential vote heads to runoff with leftist and pro-Trump rival
Colombia's presidential election will go to a runoff between leftist senator Iván Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella. Neither candidate cleared 50 percent in the first round and the two represent contrasting positions on the Petro government and US ties. The runoff is set for 21 June.
BBC Latin AmericaColombia's first-round presidential vote produced a tight race between leftist senator Iván Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, with neither clearing the 50 percent threshold. BBC's Bogota correspondent Vanessa Buschschlüter reported that Cepeda took around 32 percent of the vote while de la Espriella came second with 28 percent. The remainder was split among six other opposition candidates.
Cepeda is campaigning to extend the social policies of current president Gustavo Petro and to complete land reform. De la Espriella has presented himself as 'Colombia's Trump', promising tougher crime policy and closer alignment with Washington. Roberta Braga, an analyst at the Atlantic Council, told the BBC that the runoff functions 'as a referendum on the Petro legacy'.
The national Civil Registry has confirmed the runoff will take place on 21 June. European Union and CARICOM observer missions will remain in the country. In Sunday-evening statements, both candidates acknowledged the legitimacy of the process and called for any incidents of violence to be prevented during the second-round campaign.
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