Andrea Innocenti Colombia is at the center of an intense political debate as the country prepares for the presidential runoff election. The two candidates, Abelardo De la Espriella e Ivan Cepedathey represent two diametrically opposed visions of the country's future.
With the company 28% of the polling stations counted, De la Espriella, supported by the movement Defenders of the Fatherlandis slightly ahead with the 50,43% of the votes, while Cepeda, candidate of the alliance Pacto Historicocollects the 47,99%.
Closed borders to ensure transparent elections
In anticipation of the elections, Colombian borders were closed twelve hours earlier than planned. The president Gustavo Petro announced that “the border with Venezuela has been closed since 6:00 a.m.” to ensure that the runoff election takes place “without external interference and with full transparency.”
Land and river border crossings with neighboring countries, such as Venezuela and Ecuador, were closed at 6:00 PM on Saturday and will remain closed until 18:00 AM on Monday. This measure is intended to prevent potential risks that could jeopardize the electoral process.
Two opposing political visions
De la Espriella, a former lawyer of 47 yearsis inspired by political figures such as Donald TrumpJavier Milei e Nayib Bukele.
His party, founded in 2026, promotes far-right policies with a militaristic and security-based approach.
Cepeda, a senator of 63 years With a Marxist background, he is the successor candidate to outgoing President Petro. His platform focuses on social reforms, reducing inequality, and an ambitious plan for total peace.
Economic and social proposals
De la Espriella proposes ultra-liberal policies, reducing public intervention and subsidies, and focusing on private initiative. His program includes the intensive exploitation of natural resources, although he does not mention the Amazon, which covers the 42% of the national territory.
Cepeda, on the other hand, promises to continue and intensify policies to reduce inequality, with social reforms, subsidies for the poorest, and tax increases for the richest. His major economic project is an agrarian reform that will transform Colombia into an agribusiness powerhouse.
Environmental and safety policies
De la Espriella intends to solve the security problems with very tough policies, abandoning all peace negotiations with the guerrilla groups and supporting military operations, including with the support of the United States. He has promised to destroy 3.300 square kilometers of cocaine cultivation by any means possible.
Cepeda, on the other hand, favors pursuing the project of total peace, addressing the "structural causes of violence" such as inequality, poverty, and social exclusion. Regarding cocaine cultivation, he proposes subsidies and investments to encourage its replacement with traditional agricultural projects.
Foreign Policy and Civil Rights
De la Espriella wants to add Colombia to the group of Latin American countries that have close ties with Trump's United States. He advocates for closer relations with Israel and holds very radical views on LGBTQ+ movements, portraying himself as a defender of the so-called "traditional family."
Cepeda, like Petro, wants autonomy from the United States and advocates multilateralism. He has good relations with left-wing governments. Luiz Inácio Lula in Brazil and claudia sheinbaum in Mexico. His choice of an indigenous woman, Aida QuilcuéAs vice president, it is a sign of his concern for minorities and civil rights.
Directly
Uruguay
Cape VerdeUpcoming matches
New Zealand
Egypt
Argentina
Austria
France
Iraq
Norway
SenegalResults
Belgium
Iran
Spain
Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
Japan
Ecuador
Curaçao