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Colombia's presidential election is marked by fears of a return to past violence
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Colombia faces a deeply polarized presidential election between peace activist Iván Cepeda, who supports continued negotiations with armed groups, and Abelardo de la Espriella, who promises a hardline crackdown on crime.
- The country’s six decades of armed conflict have left over 10 million victims, with trauma and violence remaining central issues in politics despite a 2016 peace pact with FARC guerrillas.
- Victims like Blanca Nubia Monroy, whose son was killed in a military scandal known as "false positives," fear a return to past abuses if a hardline military approach is pursued.
- Sigifredo López, a former guerrilla captive, supports de la Espriella’s promise to restore security through force, fearing the current peace strategy has emboldened criminal groups and worsened violence.
- The ongoing violence, including recent attacks and threats against politicians, underscores the fragile peace and the high stakes of the election for Colombia’s future stability.
