Story perspectives

De la Espriella Leads Runoff Amid Violence, High Blank Votes

6/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

Preliminary results gave Abelardo de la Espriella 43.7%, Iván Cepeda 40.9% and Paloma Valencia 6.9%, prompting a runoff on 21 June.
The election occurred amid 565 political-violence incidents since January 2025, including guerrilla attacks and kidnappings.
Former President Álvaro Uribe and third-place candidate Paloma Valencia endorsed de la Espriella, urging voters to defeat Cepeda.
Election officials recorded 245,342 null ballots and 406,830 blank ballots, showing voter disengagement.

History

Historical Context

Álvaro Uribe’s 26 May 2002 victory, secured with 53 % of the vote after the Conservative Party shifted support to his hard-line security platform, marked a turn from President Pastrana’s abandoned peace talks. The 31 May 2026 presidential race now pits right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella (43.7 %) against leftist Iván Cepeda (40.9 %) in a runoff, echoing the polarised contest that launched Uribe’s tenure.

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Story summary

Preliminary results gave Abelardo de la Espriella 43.7%, Iván Cepeda 40.9% and Paloma Valencia 6.9%, prompting a runoff on 21 June.
The election occurred amid 565 political-violence incidents since January 2025, including guerrilla attacks and kidnappings.
Former President Álvaro Uribe and third-place candidate Paloma Valencia endorsed de la Espriella, urging voters to defeat Cepeda.
Election officials recorded 245,342 null ballots and 406,830 blank ballots, showing voter disengagement.

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