The first stage of the presidential race in Colombia has concluded without an immediate victory for any of the contenders for the highest state office. No candidate managed to cross the necessary threshold of 50% of the votes, which automatically moves the political struggle into the stage of a decisive confrontation.
Leadership of Abelardo de la Espriella
According to preliminary data from the National Registry of Civil Status of Colombia, after processing 96% of the ballots, the leader of the race became Abelardo de la Espriella, representing the "Defenders of the Homeland" movement. He managed to secure the support of 43.62% of voters, which ensured him first place in the current classification.
Tight Race with the Representative of the Ruling Coalition
The second place was taken by the candidate from the ruling coalition "Historical Pact", Ivan Sepeda. His result amounted to 41.13% of the votes. The gap between the two leaders turned out to be minimal — only about 2.5 percentage points, which indicates high competition and a split electorate.
Results of Other Participants
Completing the top three was the candidate from the "Democratic Center" party, Paloma Valencia, who received 6.86% of the votes. The party, led by former president Alvaro Uribe, demonstrated a significant lag behind the two main favorites. Following them are:
- Former governor of the Antioquia department Sergio Fajardo — 4.20%.
- Candidate from the "Destroy the System" movement Raul Santiago Botero — 0.95%.
Second Round: June 21
Since none of the candidates crossed the 50% threshold, Abelardo de la Espriella and Ivan Sepeda will meet in the second round, which will take place on June 21. The winner of the vote will become the new President of Colombia.