{"data":{"id":1760,"lang":"en","title":"Colombia Heads to a June 21 Runoff as Far-Right Outsider De la Espriella Upsets Leftist Cepeda in First Round","summary":"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.","category":"other","category_label":"Other","published_at":"2026-06-02T18:01:40Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T18:01:40Z","url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/1760-colombia-heads-to-a-june-21-runoff-as-far-right-outsider-de-la-espriella-upsets","api_url":"https://techtools.cz/news-api/v1/articles/1760?lang=en","markdown_url":"https://techtools.cz/news-api/v1/articles/1760.md?lang=en","image_url":"https://colombiaone.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Abelardo-De-la-Espriella-credit-@ABDELAESPRIELLA-1-696x461.jpg","word_count":164,"reading_time_minutes":1,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/31/cepeda-de-la-espriella-advance-in-colombias-presidential-election","domain":"aljazeera.com"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colombian_presidential_election","domain":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"url":"https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260531-colombia-presidential-election-live-follow-the-first-round","domain":"france24.com"}],"translation":{"lang":"cs","id":1833,"title":"Kolumbii čeká 21. června druhé kolo: krajně pravicový outsider De la Espriella v prvním kole překvapivě porazil levicového Cepedu","url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/1833-kolumbii-ceka-21-cervna-druhe-kolo-krajne-pravicovy-outsider-de-la-espriella-v","api_url":"https://techtools.cz/news-api/v1/articles/1833?lang=cs"},"content":"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%.\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe 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."}}