Colombia elects new president — Cepeda favored, security in focus

Colombia votes on its next president on May 31. France24 reports that the first round of voting between Petrismo heir Iván Cepeda and two far-right candidates – Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella – will determine who advances to a runoff. Cepeda leads the polls by a significant margin, but a second round is considered likely.

The campaign is taking place under tense conditions. Courrier International documents that campaign rhetoric is described as "incendiary" – particularly on the peace agreement, which fundamentally divides the candidates. While Cepeda defends the agreement with the FARC, Valencia and De la Espriella reject it or demand renegotiations.

Violence and diplomatic tensions

The security situation remains tense. Despite Petro's promise of "total peace," the country is experiencing new waves of violence. Mediapart reports on accounts from the Cauca department, where armed groups and organized crime continue to terrorize the population. The next president will have to face this challenge.

In parallel, a diplomatic conflict with Ecuador is escalating. investing.com reports that Colombia's government accuses Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa of "deliberately" interfering in the election. Noboa announced that as of June 1, he would eliminate tariffs on Colombian products – a measure that Colombia views as election interference, as it would benefit an opposition candidate. Bogotá calls this "fraudulent" and "electoral interference."

For the vote itself, clear rules apply: El Espectador clarifies that voters may cast ballots with a national ID card, passport, or digital cédula – passwords or notices are not permitted. The Registraduría (electoral authority) has clarified the requirements.