Colombians head to the polls on Sunday in a presidential runoff that is expected to dramatically alter the country's approach to its decades-long armed conflict, now at its most violent point since the 2016 peace agreement with the Farc. The election pits a left-wing senator who supports talks with armed gangs against a far-right outsider endorsed by former President Trump.
The conflict is defining the election, with polls showing frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-admiring far-right lawyer and millionaire businessman, pledging to abandon President Gustavo Petro's “total peace” plan. His rival, a left-wing senator, backs continued negotiations with criminal organizations.
De la Espriella has vowed to return to full-scale military confrontation with armed groups, ending the current administration's strategy of negotiating disarmament. The election comes as the internal conflict reaches its most violent point since the landmark 2016 peace accord, though specific casualty figures were not detailed in the reports.
The outcome will likely trigger a rapid shift in security policy, with potential escalation of military operations against armed groups. The election also draws international attention, with De la Espriella's alignment with Trump signaling possible changes in US-Colombia relations.
Analysts warn that abandoning negotiations could lead to increased violence without clear military victory, though the long-term effectiveness of either strategy remains uncertain.