Colombia votes in polarized presidential runoff

Colombians are voting Sunday in a sharply polarized presidential runoff that pits leftist lawmaker Iván Cepeda against far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, a contest shaped by fears that the country could slide back into the widespread violence that marked earlier decades.

More than 41 million people are eligible to cast ballots in the race, which follows a May 31 first round in which de la Espriella won 44% of the vote and Cepeda took 41%, according to official results. The two advanced from a field of 11 candidates.

The campaign has exposed deep divisions in Colombia. Both candidates say they can prevent a return to car bombings, kidnappings, disappearances and forced displacements, but their plans sit at opposite ends of the political spectrum.

“Right now, what worries me is the polarization that exists between us: there are two very extreme sides, and the violence is concerning,” said John Manrique, a lawyer in Bogotá. “What I hope is that people accept who won … Let’s not go out and fight.”

Cepeda, a senator from the ruling Pacto Histórico party, is running as the heir to President Gustavo Petro’s progressive agenda. He has promised to continue Petro’s efforts to negotiate with illegal armed groups, despite widespread criticism that the strategy has produced few results.

Petro launched his “total peace” plan in 2022. It was not until Thursday that the first armed group — one with about 100 members — gave up its weapons and began a resettlement process intended to reintegrate its members into civilian life. Colombia’s illegal armed groups have more than 27,000 members.

De la Espriella, a political newcomer nicknamed “The Tiger,” is campaigning on a hardline security platform. He has promised to aggressively target criminals and build 10 mega-prisons, echoing policies used by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Those policies have lowered homicide rates in El Salvador but have also prompted accusations of human rights abuses.

De la Espriella’s approach has earned the endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump. Petro told CBS News earlier this month that he viewed Trump’s endorsement as interference and accused Washington of abandoning anti-drug cooperation for ideological reasons. He also warned that Colombia would face a wave of political violence if the right took power.

The candidates also differ on how to address Colombia’s struggling health system, rising public debt and entrenched corruption.

The vote comes 10 years after Colombia signed a historic peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a deal that raised hopes of ending decades of conflict between rebel groups and the government. Since then, violence has surged again, especially as many armed groups shifted from ideological conflict toward drug trafficking profits.

Authorities recorded 14,780 homicides last year, the highest number since at least 2015, driven by clashes among illegal armed groups. Conservative presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe was among those killed. Extortion cases have also climbed, reaching 13,417 in 2025, more than double the total in 2015.

Yamile Guevara, a retired teacher in Bogotá and a Cepeda supporter, said Petro’s policies need more time. “The left has always been viewed negatively; it has been harsh, and many people have died,” she said. “So, one wonders what’s wrong with people who have forgotten history … how can they not think carefully about which candidate they are going to elect?”

The final stretch of the campaign has brought sharper verbal attacks and accusations of fraud, vote-buying and intimidation. Cepeda filed a complaint with Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office and the International Criminal Court accusing de la Espriella of ties to paramilitary groups. De la Espriella has denied the allegation.