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Colombia’s President-Elect Urges International Oversight for Democratic Transition

By The City Paper Staff - July 8, 2026

Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has appealed to the international community to closely monitor the country’s democratic transition, as outgoing President Gustavo Petro and opposition leader Iván Cepeda attempt to undermine the August 7 transfer of power. In a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, the criminal defense lawyer said he had […]

Colombia’s VP-elect rejects Cepeda’s call for “Civil Disobedience” as tantrum

By The City Paper Staff - July 2, 2026

Colombia’s Vice President-elect José Manuel Restrepo on Wednesday condemned opposition senator Iván Cepeda for calling on supporters to engage in “peaceful civil disobedience” unless President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella renounces his U.S. citizenship before taking office, describing the move as “an anti-democratic tantrum” and an attack on the country’s democratic institutions. The confrontation marks a […]

Iván Cepeda concedes election defeat, Petro begins transition to De la Espriella government

By The City Paper Staff - June 24, 2026

Colombian leftist senator Iván Cepeda formally conceded defeat on Wednesday, acknowledging conservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella as the country’s president-elect after electoral authorities confirmed that the official vote count closely matched the preliminary tally. The concession, coupled with outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s announcement that he would begin the formal transition of power, marked a […]

Colombia’s President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella Pledges a ‘Miracle Nation’

By María Claudia Peña - June 23, 2026

Standing behind a bulletproof screen beneath Barranquilla’s towering Ventana al Mundo monument, President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella delivered a triumphant yet carefully choreographed victory speech Sunday night, promising to restore security, revive confidence in Colombia’s democratic institutions and govern for all Colombians after one of the closest presidential elections in the country’s modern history. Addressing […]

Abelardo ‘El Tigre’ de la Espriella wins Colombia’s presidency by narrow margin

By Richard Emblin - June 21, 2026

Conservative firebrand Abelardo “El Tigre” de la Espriella has been elected Colombia’s next president after defeating hard-left rival Iván Cepeda in Sunday’s presidential runoff by less than one percentage point, capping one of the closest and most consequential elections in the country’s recent democratic history. According to National Registry Bulletin 18, De la Espriella secured […]

Bogotá ramps up security ahead of Colombia’s pivotal presidential runoff

By Richard Emblin - June 18, 2026

Bogotá is stepping up security and emergency preparations ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff, deploying more than 12,500 police officers across the Colombian capital while easing alcohol restrictions after reaching a compromise with the city’s hospitality sector during the FIFA World Cup. Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán and Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez chaired a high-level Security Council […]

ELN Declares Election Ceasefire as Colombia’s Runoff Faces Voter Coercion

By The City Paper Staff - June 16, 2026

Colombia’s presidential runoff campaign entered its final week under the shadow of security concerns, with the country’s largest remaining Marxist guerrilla announcing a temporary ceasefire while opposition allies filed a criminal complaint alleging armed groups may have influenced first-round voting. The National Liberation Army (ELN) said it would suspend offensive operations between June 20 and […]

Football Jersey Wars: Are Civil Liberties Being Sabotaged in Colombia’s Presidential Run-Off?

By Richard Emblin - June 10, 2026

During four years of Gustavo Petro’s presidential term, Colombians have witnessed the symbolic resurrection of flags and banners that many believe should be relegated to the country’s violent past. The president has brandished Simón Bolívar’s sword at political events, invoked images of the M-19 guerrilla movement of which he was once a member, and even […]

If Colombia’s Left Loses, Will It Accept the Verdict of Democracy?

By Richard Emblin - June 9, 2026

For a country that has spent decades trying to strengthen its democratic institutions, Colombia finds itself confronting an uncomfortable question ahead of the June 21 presidential runoff: If Iván Cepeda loses, will his political movement accept defeat? It is a question that would have seemed unthinkable only a generation ago. Yet it has become increasingly […]

Trump Endorses De La Espriella, Calls Cepeda a “Radical Left-Wing Marxist”

By Richard Emblin - June 3, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his unconditional support behind Colombian hard-right presidential candidate Abelardo “El Tigre” de la Espriella, offering what he described as his “complete and total endorsement” ahead of the country’s June 21 runoff election. The endorsement, published Tuesday evening on Trump’s Truth Social platform, immediately injected an international dimension into Colombia’s […]

Petro Challenges Election Results as Colombia’s “Tiger” Clinches First-Round Victory

By Richard Emblin - June 1, 2026

The hard-right presidential candidate Abelardo “El Tigre” de la Espriella emerged as the frontrunner in Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday, setting up a June 21 runoff against left-wing senator Iván Cepeda after a closely contested first round that was quickly overshadowed by President Gustavo Petro’s allegations of electoral irregularities. According to the final bulletin (No.67) […]

Right-wing De La Espriella in Face-Off Election Against Marxist Iván Cepeda

By The City Paper Staff - May 31, 2026

Right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo “El Tigre” de la Espriella emerged as the frontrunner in Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday, setting up a high-stakes runoff against left-wing senator Iván Cepeda in a contest that could reshape the political future of one of Latin America’s largest economies. With more than 97% of ballots counted, National Registry Bulletin […]

Voting Begins in Colombia’s Closely Watched Presidential Race

By Richard Emblin - May 31, 2026

Much of Colombia woke up to temperate weather and clear skies over the capital, Bogotá. As lines began to form outside polling stations when they opened at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, voters cast their ballots in one of the country’s most closely watched presidential elections in decades, a contest that could redefine the political direction […]

Colombia Enters Final Week of Contentious 2026 Presidential Campaign

By Richard Emblin - May 25, 2026

Colombia entered the final week of campaigning on Monday ahead of a presidential election that has exposed deep political divisions, sharpened ideological tensions and raised concerns over the country’s security and economic future. The three leading candidates in the 2026 race wrapped up major public appearances over the weekend with rallies across Bogotá, where supporters […]

“Before They Touch My Family, They’ll Have to Kill Me”: Uribe Warns Protest Outside Antioquia Estate

By Richard Emblin - May 20, 2026

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez confronted a group of protesters outside his residence in Rionegro, Antioquia, on Wednesday after activists began painting a mural referencing victims of Colombia’s “false positives” scandal. Videos and images shared widely on social media showed Uribe surrounded by security personnel while holding a paint roller near the wall where […]

Battle of the Polls: Valencia to Face Cepeda in Second Round

By Richard Emblin - May 14, 2026

A new national survey suggests Colombia’s 2026 presidential race is shaping into a high-stakes runoff between Iván Cepeda and conservative rival Paloma Valencia, with the first round on May 31 favoring the left-wing senator, but the second round – on June 21 – projecting a narrow victory for the Centro Democratico candidate. The latest poll […]