Colombia presidential runoff highlights voter trust and mistrust
10 reported
Colombia heads to a presidential runoff on June 21, with conservative independent candidate Abelardo de la Espriella facing leftist candidate Iván Cepeda. The first-round vote on May 31 gave de la Espriella 43.7% and Cepeda 40.9%, falling short of the 50% needed for an outright win. De la Espriella, a lawyer who also holds U.S. and Italian citizenship, has never held public office and collected nearly 2 million signatures to get on the ballot. He campaigns on a zero-tolerance approach to crime, calls for an end to peace talks with leftist rebels, and promises to kill criminals who do not surrender. Cepeda has pledged to continue some popular social policies of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who reduced poverty but has been criticized for being soft on crime. Many voters express mistrust in the political establishment and view de la Espriella as the “lesser evil,” according to the source article. The election is being watched as part of a right-wing surge across Latin America, with Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica moving to the political right over the past year.
What’s reported
The presidential runoff is on June 21.
First-round results: de la Espriella 43.7%, Cepeda 40.9%.
De la Espriella is a lawyer with U.S. and Italian citizenship, never held public office, and collected nearly 2 million signatures to get on the ballot.
He campaigns on zero-tolerance crime policy and ending peace talks with leftist rebels.
Cepeda pledges to continue some of President Petro’s popular social policies.
Outgoing President Petro reduced poverty but is criticized for being soft on crime.
Political violence in Colombia is on the rise; de la Espriella wears a bulletproof vest and speaks behind bulletproof glass.
President Donald Trump endorsed de la Espriella in a social media post.
De la Espriella’s past work defending leaders of paramilitary groups accused of drug trafficking and human rights abuses raises doubts for some.
The Historical Pact party under Petro pushed to rewrite Colombia’s constitution; the proposal was withdrawn after the May vote.
Key figures
Abelardo de la Espriella: presidential candidate, independent, lawyer, holds U.S. and Italian citizenship.
Iván Cepeda: leftist presidential candidate.
Gustavo Petro: outgoing president, Colombia’s first leftist leader.
Sandra Borda: political scientist at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá.
José Hernández: cattle rancher from Meta province.
Jorge Restrepo: Colombian security analyst.
Gladys Charcas: community leader in Puerto Boyaca.
Andres Caro: lawyer in Bogotá.
Donald Trump: U.S. president, endorsed de la Espriella.
Sources: csmonitor.com
