Colombia flirts with the right as Trump-backed candidate ‘the Tiger’ leads into runoff

Key Points:

• Colombians are voting in a presidential runoff between far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who leads with 43.74% from the first round, and left-wing senator Iván Cepeda, backed by President Gustavo Petro, who received just under 41%.
• De la Espriella campaigns on a tough-on-crime platform inspired by Trump and El Salvador’s Bukele, advocating for mega prisons, lower taxes, and traditional family values, while Cepeda focuses on fighting inequality, agrarian reform, and human rights, opposing US-backed military interventions.
• The election occurs amid rising political polarization, increasing violence, and public dissatisfaction with Petro’s “Total Peace” policy, which has failed to reduce conflict and crime, influencing voters’ security concerns and views on Colombia’s future.
• De la Espriella enjoys significant support from conservative sectors and US allies, including former President Álvaro Uribe and Donald Trump, while Cepeda relies on mobilizing Petro’s existing base but faces challenges expanding beyond it.
• Analysts note the election reflects a broader political realignment in Colombia, with both left and right gaining ground amid the peace process and ongoing societal divisions, potentially reshaping Bogotá’s relationship with the United States.