# Colombia Heads to a June 21 Runoff as Far-Right Outsider De la Espriella Upsets Leftist Cepeda in First Round

*2026-06-02 18:01 UTC · Other · 1 min read*

> Far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly beat leftist Ivan Cepeda in Colombia's first round, sending the race to a polarizing June 21 runoff.

Colombia is headed for a polarizing presidential runoff on June 21 after far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella defied the polls to finish first on May 31, taking roughly 43.7% of the vote against 40.9% for left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda. Because neither cleared the 50% threshold, the two will face off again, with Democratic Centre candidate Paloma Valencia eliminated in third on about 6.9%. More than 23 million Colombians cast ballots, a turnout of around 56%.

The runoff pits two opposing visions for the country. De la Espriella, a businessman with no prior elected office, campaigns on El Salvador-style hardline security, pledging megaprisons and military force against drug trafficking. Cepeda, a long-serving senator aligned with outgoing President Gustavo Petro, defends a negotiated Total Peace approach and opposes a purely militaristic war on drugs.

The outcome on June 21 could reshape Colombia's relationship with the United States and its decades-long internal conflict, making it one of the most consequential Latin American elections of the year.

## Sources

- [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/31/cepeda-de-la-espriella-advance-in-colombias-presidential-election)
- [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colombian_presidential_election)
- [france24.com](https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260531-colombia-presidential-election-live-follow-the-first-round)

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TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/1760-colombia-heads-to-a-june-21-runoff-as-far-right-outsider-de-la-espriella-upsets
Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/1833-kolumbii-ceka-21-cervna-druhe-kolo-krajne-pravicovy-outsider-de-la-espriella-v