BOGOTA: Colombians head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, choosing between hard-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist senator Ivan Cepeda. The outcome will determine the future of the country's fragile peace process and its strained relations with the United States.
Two Candidates, Two Visions
Up to 41 million voters will decide between frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella and his rival Ivan Cepeda in a race that mirrors the hyper-polarized left-right divide seen in recent Latin American elections. Security has dominated the campaign, which was marred by bomb attacks and the murder of a leading conservative presidential candidate in broad daylight in Bogota.
De la Espriella, a dual US-Colombian national who calls himself "The Tiger," won the first round in May by promising to wage war on drug-running guerrilla groups that refused to sign the 2016 peace deal. He told AFP that if elected, he wants US backing for a 90-day campaign of airstrikes against armed groups producing coca, the main ingredient in cocaine.
Peace Process at Stake
Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator and human rights defender, has been a key figure behind the policy of negotiating "total peace" with armed groups. He is the son of a communist senator killed by right-wing paramilitaries and is the political heir to outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who is constitutionally barred from running. Critics say Petro's leftist government has allowed armed groups to grow richer from trafficking, expand their territory, and gain power. While Cepeda recently told AFP that he would "take stock" of peace talks and "make the necessary changes," he has long favored dialogue over an iron-fist security approach.
Right-Wing Wave
De la Espriella hopes to replicate the right-wing wave that has swept conservative candidates to power in Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Honduras. He advocates the right to carry arms, the construction of mega-prisons, fracking, cutting the size of the state, and has said that it would be "ideal" to dollarize Colombia's economy. From behind bulletproof glass, with a military salute, he has rallied support with a cry of "stand firm for the homeland!" During the campaign, he showed off his singing skills and the millionaire life he led in Italy before the campaign, while dismissing criticism that he has represented a string of shady figures in his legal career.
Impact on US-Colombia Relations
The election will also decide the fate of strained ties with Washington. De la Espriella, a US citizen, has promised to strengthen cooperation with the United States in the fight against drug trafficking, while Cepeda has emphasized a more independent foreign policy. The outcome will be closely watched in Washington, where the Trump administration has expressed support for de la Espriella's hardline approach.
