Colombia’s presidential runoff features conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist senator Iván Cepeda, who both advanced to the second round after the first-round vote. Multiple outlets describe de la Espriella as a hard-right, Trump-admiring figure and Cepeda as aligned with current President Gustavo Petro’s left-wing movement. Early results and preliminary tallies presented by outlets show de la Espriella in the lead as ballots are counted for the runoff, positioning him for a narrow path to victory.

The Guardian reports that with roughly 99.65% to 99.9% of ballots counted in the preliminary tally, de la Espriella has secured just under 50% of votes, narrowly ahead of Cepeda, who is below 49% (with a small share of ballots cast blank). Bloomberg likewise frames de la Espriella as leading in early runoff results.

France 24 and Euronews cover the runoff as a contest over whether Colombia takes a “radical” shift versus continuing its current course, against a backdrop of ongoing security challenges and armed-group violence mentioned by some outlets. The Guardian also notes that Cepeda and supporters raise allegations of vote-count irregularities.