Colombia will hold a presidential runoff on June 21 after Ivan Cepeda conceded the first round, setting up a face-off with right-wing lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella. De La Espriella won 43.7% of the vote to Cepeda's 40.9% once all ballots were counted. Cepeda initially raised concerns about more than 800,000 identity cards but later said he had no evidence and formally accepted the results. The runoff pits De La Espriella's hard-line security and economic agenda against Cepeda's plans to expand social programs and seek dialogue with illegal armed groups.
Colombia Set For June 21 Runoff After Cepeda Concedes; 'The Tiger' De La Espriella Leads
Supporters of Colombian presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the Historic Pact party attend a campaign event ahead of the runoff election, in Cali, Colombia, June 6, 2026. REUTERS/Jair Coll
Colombia will hold a presidential runoff on June 21 after leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda acknowledged defeat in the first round, clearing the way for a contest against right-wing lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella. With all polling-station ballots counted, De La Espriella secured 43.7% of the vote to Cepeda's 40.9%.
Concession After Questions Over Registry
Cepeda initially declined to accept the result, alleging discrepancies in the voter registry and possible irregularities affecting more than 800,000 identity cards. He later said he had no evidence to support those claims and formally recognized the outcome once the official count was completed.
"In my capacity as presidential candidate for the Historic Pact and the Alliance for Life, I inform the public that, once the counting is finished, I acknowledge the results of the first round of the presidential election," Cepeda wrote on his X account.
Campaigns And Stakes
Abelardo De La Espriella, 47, who leads the Defenders of the Homeland movement and styles himself as a political outsider, has campaigned on a hard-line security platform: tougher measures on crime and drug trafficking, more powers and resources for the armed forces, and plans to build 10 "megaprisons." He has conditioned participation in a televised debate on Cepeda's formal acknowledgment of the first-round result.
Colombian presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the Historic Pact party waves as he arrives to a campaign event ahead of the runoff election, in Cali, Colombia, June 6, 2026. REUTERS/Jair Coll
Ivan Cepeda, 63, a philosopher and longtime congressman affiliated with the Historic Pact, has pledged to expand social programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality and to pursue dialogue with illegal armed groups. Cepeda's political background includes the high-profile assassination of his father, a communist leader, in 1994.
What To Watch
Opinion polls and analysts suggest the second round will be tougher for Cepeda as right-leaning voters — who had multiple first-round options — are likely to consolidate behind De La Espriella. Turnout in the first round was relatively low, at about 58% according to Colombia's national registry office, a factor that could influence the dynamics of the runoff.
Quick Facts: Runoff date: June 21. Final first-round results: De La Espriella 43.7%, Cepeda 40.9%. First-round turnout: ~58%.
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