Petro “Does Not Accept” Colombia’s Preliminary Results
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would not accept the preliminary vote count, writing on his X account that he would wait for final official results. He also alleged irregularities, claiming that “hundreds of thousands of votes were added,” and repeated earlier accusations about flaws in the counting and scrutiny software — without providing any evidence.
Former president Uribe throws support behind hardline De la Espriella
In an unexpectedly poor showing, former President Álvaro Uribe’s party and his candidate secured just 6% of the vote, with 1,637,690 ballots cast in their favor. Following the result, Uribe announced his support for far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, joining other right-wing leaders across the country who have also thrown their weight behind the runoff frontrunner.
Paloma Valencia endorses De la Espriella for runoff
Finishing third in the first round, Paloma Valencia, the right-wing candidate backed by former President Álvaro Uribe, announced her support for Abelardo de la Espriella ahead of the June 21 runoff.
“I invite everyone to defeat Cepeda, to ensure that the neo-communism ruling this country does not continue,” she told her supporters in Bogotá.
From the streets to the runoff: Iván Cepeda’s Long March
Iván Cepeda Castro entered politics through Colombia’s deepest wound: violence. The son of union leader Manuel Cepeda Vargas, assassinated by paramilitaries in 1994, he built his career as a human rights defender before reaching the Senate with the leftist Polo Democrático party.
“His profile is that of an ideologist rather than an administrator: he speaks in historical terms, mobilizes collective causes and builds his political identity around memory and ‘pending justice.’ The question surrounding his candidacy is not whether he can convince his base — he already has that — but whether he is capable of speaking to a Colombia that still mistrusts,” says Simón Doncel, political consultant, speaking to France 24 in Spanish.
Presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition marks his ballot during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026.
De la Espriella calls on voters to celebrate in Barranquilla
Abelardo de la Espriella leads the first round with more than 10 million votes. A runoff has been scheduled for June 21, 2026. The candidate celebrated the results and invited his supporters to join him at a victory rally in Barranquilla, announcing it through a video on social media alongside his family.
First Round Results: Colombia
- More than 23 million people voted, representing approximately 56% of registered voters.
- Around 400,000 people cast blank ballots, accounting for 1.7% of the vote.
- An additional 240,000 cast invalid ballots, representing 1%.
- Electoral authorities stated that the voting day proceeded “normally and safely.”
Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Defenders of the Motherland movement, celebrate first-round election results in Barranquilla, Colombia, on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
De la Espriella: From controversial lawyer to presidential frontrunner
“Abelardo de la Espriella has a very particular leadership style. His campaign persona draws on regional references: half Bukele, half Milei. He has carefully shaped his appearance to resemble Bukele, and mirrors him in his security discourse as well. And half Milei because of his ultra-liberal aspirations for state cuts — he calls himself ‘El Tigre,’ a clear nod to Milei’s lion,” explains Eugénie Richard, professor of political marketing and strategic communication at Colombia’s Universidad Externado, speaking to France 24 in Spanish.
With 98% of votes reported by Colombia’s National Civil Registry, Abelardo de la Espriella has secured 10,192,087 votes — 43% of the total — confirming his place in the June 21 runoff against leftist candidate Iván Cepeda.
Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement (Defensores de la Patria) arrives to vote during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026
Colombia: Far-Right and Left head to runoff
With 92% of votes counted, the trend is clear: far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella leads with more than 9,515,000 votes, followed by leftist candidate Iván Cepeda with 8,977,429. The two candidates will face off in a runoff on June 21, 2026.
Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland (Defensores de la patria) movement depart a polling station after voting during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Colombia’s Regional Vote: A divided country
Early results show a clear regional divide. Leftist candidate Iván Cepeda leads in Bogotá, the capital, as well as along the northern Atlantic coast and the Pacific coast. Far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, meanwhile, holds the advantage in Medellín and the Santander region.
Source: Colombia’s National Civil Registry (Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil), as of 5:13 PM Bogotá time.
Colombia heads to Runoff: De la Espriella vs. Cepeda
With more than 71% of votes counted, results point to a runoff in Colombia’s presidential race. Leftist candidate Iván Cepeda and far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella are set to face off in a second round, as neither candidate has secured the majority needed to win outright.
De la Espriella leads with 4.4 million votes with 48% counted
Right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella leads Colombia’s presidential count with more than 4.4 million votes. Oficialista candidate Iván Cepeda trails by roughly 300,000 votes, according to the National Registry.
De La Espriella and Cepeda lead with 22% counted
With 22.57% of polling stations reporting, right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella leads with more than 1,754,726 votes, followed closely by leftist candidate Iván Cepeda with 1,697,427, according to Colombia’s National Registry.
Early Results: De la Espriella and Cepeda lead with 12% Counted
Leftist icon, millionaire lawyer, conservative senator: Who will be Colombia’s next leader?
- The preliminary vote count is now underway, though less than 3% of results have been reported so far.
Colombia: The Count Is On
Colombia is going to the polls this Sunday. The presidential election is set to determine Gustavo Petro’s successor. Violence is at the heart of this campaign: armed groups are stepping up their attacks, and each candidate has their own proposals for how to prevent it. Story by Eliza Herbert and Antoine Fenaux.
Polls close across the country
More than 41 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots. The National Registry is expected to release its first projections within the hour, indicating whether there is a winner or if the race will go to a runoff.
Colombia votes calmly despite electoral risk alerts
Election day in Colombia has unfolded relatively smoothly despite some isolated incidents. The Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) reported clashes between illegal armed groups in a rural area of Tibú, in the Catatumbo region, as well as the detonation of an explosive device in the department of Caquetá, south of the country.
For his part, National Registrar Hernán Penagos said the main issue occurred in a rural area of Urrao, where weather conditions delayed the delivery of electoral materials and led to the late opening of two polling stations, a situation that was later resolved.
In Medellín, long lines and complaints were also reported after a polling station was relocated to the 11th floor of a shopping mall, making access difficult for elderly voters and others.
In ten minutes, polling stations will close across the country.
Welcome to our coverage of the Colombian presidential election. We’ll be broadcasting live from Bogotá and our studios in Paris.
This story originally appeared on France24
