BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and peace-builder Iván Cepeda are leading the vote counts in the first round of Colombia’s presidential elections held on Sunday. They are set to face off in a presidential runoff later in June. De la Espriella, known as “El Tigre” or “The Tiger,” has portrayed himself as a tough-on-crime supporter of former President Donald Trump, leading the race with over 43% of the votes after nearly 98% of the ballots were counted, according to Colombia’s electoral authorities. However, he did not achieve the 50% required to win outright in the first round.
Cepeda, a progressive senator and ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, received less than 41% of the vote. Paloma Valencia, representing Colombia’s establishment party and positioning herself as a centrist, received less than 7% and did not advance to the next round.
The results indicate a competitive runoff, with de La Espriella likely to attract voters who supported Valencia. The upcoming election is expected to highlight two contrasting political paths for Colombia, reflecting broader shifts in Latin America towards candidates advocating for stricter measures against criminal organizations.
Cepeda aims to continue Petro’s progressive agenda, focusing on negotiating peace with armed groups, while de La Espriella has pledged to intensify crackdowns on crime, similar to the approach of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, which has raised concerns about human rights abuses.
The election is viewed as a referendum on Petro’s policies and comes a decade after Colombia signed a historic peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Despite this agreement, violence has surged, complicating the political landscape. The outcome of the election is anticipated to influence political trends across Latin America, as voters increasingly shift away from progressive policies in favor of more authoritarian approaches to security.