Colombia has already defined the battle that will decide who will occupy the Casa de Nariño over the next few years. And the result of the first round has left one of the great surprises of election day.
The far-right candidate, leader of the Defenders of the Homeland movement, will face the leftist senator Iván Cepeda, of the Historical Pact, on June 21, after both have received the most votes in the first round of the presidential elections held this Sunday.
With more than 92% of the tables scrutinized, De la Espriella obtained 9.5 million votes, equivalent to 43.6% of the totalwhile Cepeda reached almost nine million supports, 41.1%.
The sinking of Paloma Valencia
The big news of the night was not only the upcoming duel between right and left. Also the result of Paloma Valencia.
The candidate of the Democratic Center, The party founded by former president Álvaro Uribe was relegated to third position with just 6.8% of the votes. An especially striking result because many polls placed her as one of the great contenders to compete in the second round.
In fact, His result was well below the more than three million votes which he achieved in March during the internal consultations of the right and the center-right.
An increasingly polarized country
The second round paints a scenario of strong political polarization. On one hand there will be Iván Cepedaone of the most recognized figures of the Colombian left and representative of the Historical Pact.
On the other, Abelardo de la Espriella, lawyer, businessman and one of the most combative voices of the Colombian right in recent years. The fact that both candidates have together concentrated close to 85% of the votes also reflects the growing ideological division that the country is going through.
Fajardo and Claudia López, very far away
Behind them were two of the most well-known figures in the center space. Sergio Fajardo obtained just over 900,000 votes, equivalent to 4.1% of the total.
Even more discreet was the result of the former mayor of Bogotá Claudia López, which did not reach 1% of the votes.
From now on, a lightning campaign of just three weeks begins in which both candidates will try to attract the voters of the eliminated forces. The key will be especially in the behavior of the moderate and centrist electorate, that could be decisive in tipping the balance.
What already seems clear is that Colombia faces a second round marked by two radically opposed political projects.
And with a surprise that few anticipated just a few weeks ago: the emergence of Abelardo de la Espriella as the main protagonist of the presidential race.
