Colombia runoff vote shaped by security fears and conflict warnings

Aerial view of billboards inviting Colombians to vote for presidential canditate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Salvadores de la Patria movement (R), and for Ivan Cepdepa, of the Pacto Historico Political Party, in the upcoming presidential election in Cali, Colombia, on June 17, 2026. Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images LA HORMIGA, Colombia – In the jungles of southern Colombia, rebels turned in so many automatic rifles, pistols and bandoliers of bullets that one of the tables holding them collapsed in the mud. It was a small glitch in a ceremony designed to show that government's quest to disarm drug-trafficking guerrillas is finally paying off. But depending on the outcome of today's presidential runoff election, this may be Colombia's last farewell-to-arms ceremony for some time to come. Polls predict that Abelardo De La Espriella , a far-right criminal defense attorney and political newcomer will defeat Iván Cepeda , a left-wing senator from the ruling party and a protégé of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, in a contest reflecting a broader rightward shift in parts of Latin America. De La Espriella, who has been endorsed by President Trump , is promising to launch a military offensive against the guerrillas the day after he takes office. "I will give the order to bomb all of the camps holding narco-terrorists." he said in an interview last month on Colombian TV. …