Colombia’s runoff election expected to trigger shift in decades-long armed conflict (opens original article in a new tab)

Colombians vote in a presidential runoff between far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who favors military confrontation with armed groups, and leftwing senator Iván Cepeda, who supports continuing President Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' plan, as the country faces its most violent year since the 2016 Farc peace agreement.

• Colombian presidential runoff features far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and leftwing senator Iván Cepeda
• De la Espriella advocates military confrontation with armed groups, while Cepeda supports continuing Petro's 'total peace' plan
• Analysts note a global far-right trend influencing Colombian election, with de la Espriella positioning as anti-establishment outsider
• Violence in Colombia remains high, with 2023 being the most violent year since 2016 peace agreement with Farc
• Polls show de la Espriella as frontrunner, potentially leading to shift in Colombia's armed conflict approach