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Colombia heads to presidential runoff with De La Espriella and Cepeda

Colombia heads to presidential runoff with De La Espriella and Cepeda

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Abelardo de la Espriella, a pro‑Trump outsider, led the first round of Colombia’s presidential election with about 44 % of the vote while left‑wing senator Iván Cepeda received roughly 41 %, forcing a runoff on June 21. Both candidates have raised concerns about election integrity, with Cepeda alleging fraud and foreign interference. The race unfolds amid deep political polarization and ongoing violence in the country.

Abelardo De La Espriella
1. I will wipe out narcoterrorism and those who I've declared a military target like cockroaches, like rats. I will unleash upon them the wrath of God never seen before.
2. Compatriots, defenders of the homeland, more than 10 million Colombians placed their trust in el Tigre and joined the pack ... In 21 days, we are going to change the history of Colombia forever.
3. Any criminal who does not surrender will be taken down as the law allows.
4. We'll start immediately with the bombing of narco-terrorist camps.
5. We will defend democracy by reason or by force.
6. Let the United States of America and democratic parties monitor this runoff election. I will lead this battle; I will be Colombia's best warrior.
7. We have advanced to the run-off thanks to the more than 10 million Colombians who answered the roar. In 21 days, we will make history!
8. We are going to defeat tyranny and absolutism.
9. The only peace process I believe in is one imposed by the force of arms and the laws of the republic.
Ivan Cepeda
1. We will not hand Colombia over to fascism.
2. Only when the scrutiny commissions have clarified this matter will we make a statement on the results.
3. I have survived genocide, stigmatization and relentless persecution. And here I am, still standing.
4. Only when the vote-counting commissions have fully clarified what happened will we comment on tonight's results.
5. We cannot continue to develop conversations that do not yield clear results.
Paloma Valencia
1. We demand immediate action, full ⁠backing for our Armed Forces and police, and concrete results.
2. We are going to put an end to 'total peace' in order to impose total security.
Alvaro Echeverry
1. Even criminal organizations unilaterally declare a ceasefire before the elections so that they can proceed peacefully.
Gustavo Petro
United Socialist Party
1. As president, I do not accept the result.
Juan Carlos Galindo Vácha
National Civil Registry
1. The president should show greater respect for the citizens who take part in the electoral process, whether as polling officials or electoral observers. He should not make these wild claims that even he does not understand.
2. Historically, in presidential elections, the difference between the preliminary count, which is unofficial, and the official scrutiny process is less than 1%. That alone undermines any claim by President Petro that there was fraud in the count.
Sergio Guzman
Colombia Risk Analysis
1. Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round. In other words, that's a shift in public opinion that is very difficult to overcome. So now Abelardo is emerging as the likely favorite to win.
Renata Segura
Crisis Group
1. Cepeda thought he could win appealing squarely to the left, and that proved to be a massive mistake. How he pivots in the next month will determine if he has any chance to win.
2. This is de la Espriella's election to lose.

Colombia heads to presidential runoff with De La Espriella and Cepeda

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