Colombia Heads to Polarized Runoff After Surprise Election Result

Al Jazeera Al Jazeera — 2min

Colombia is heading into a highly polarized presidential runoff after a surprise first-round election result that exposed deep political divisions across the country.

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, known for his tough-on-crime message, and leftist contender Iván Cepeda now face a decisive second round that could reshape Colombia’s political future.

Supporters on both sides reflect a deeply divided electorate, with debates over security, social policy, and trust in institutions dominating the campaign.

The runoff is expected to focus less on turnout and more on convincing undecided voters in a tightly contested race.

Al Jazeera's Alessandro Rampietti reports from Barranquila

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