Colombians will vote in the presidential race between the left and the hardliner Election News

The second election sees leftist Ivan Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella compete for the presidency.

Colombians are heading to the polls to choose their next president in a run-off election, combining a successor to the country’s progressive government with a right-wing extremist who promises to crack down on crime.

The vote takes place on Sunday, where more than 41 million voters will choose between lawyer Ivan Cepeda and a criminal defense attorney Abelardo de la Espriellaafter the two exited the 11-person field in the first round of voting on May 31.

Both supporters are planning their campaign to prevent a return to the kind of widespread violence – car bombings, robberies, mass extinctions – that have ravaged Colombia in recent decades, although their responses are on different political sides.

De la Espriella is considering a heavy-handed approach that has earned him the endorsement of United States President Donald Trump.

The new politician, nicknamed “The Tiger”, has promised to go after criminals and build 10 large prisons, based on the principles of President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele which has reduced the number of murders but has led to accusations of human rights violations.

Cepeda promises to continue President Gustavo Petro’s efforts, including trying to establish dialogue with several armed groups, although those efforts have failed.

The much-criticized move that Petro launched in 2022 took until Thursday to see the first army – which has about 100 members – surrender its weapons and begin a resettlement process that would lead to a return to civilian life.

The two are also proposing solutions to the country’s health problems, debt repayment, and rampant corruption.

“At the moment, what worries me is the disagreement between us: There are two very dangerous sides, and the violence is concerning,” John Manrique, a lawyer in the capital of Bogota, said.

“What I hope is for people to accept who won,” he added. “We’re going to accept it, regardless of the side, and try to get along. … let’s not go to war.”

In the first round, Cepeda got 41 percent of the vote, while de la Espriella got 44 percent, according to official results.

Petro, without evidence, cast doubt on the results after Cepeda, who had consistently led the polls before the May vote, did not win and finished behind de la Espriella.

Ten years since the FARC peace agreement

The election took place 10 years after Colombia signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which offered hope of ending the country’s deadly war between the armed forces and the government.

But violence has worsened, especially as many rebel groups have given up fighting for drug money.

Last year, authorities recorded 14,780 killings, the most since 2015 and due to clashes between illegal armed groups. One of those killed was presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe.

Theft cases are also on the rise, reaching 13,417 in 2025, more than double the number that occurred in 2015.