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1 1 (June 9, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/goveunf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Colombia's 2026 Presidential Election Updated June 9, 2026 On June 4, 2026, Colombian authorities certified the results ofa May 31 first-round presidential election in which right-wing political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella exceeded expectations, gamering 44% of the vote to finish ahead of left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact (PH) with 41 % (see Figure 1). Despite some violence in the leadup to the contest, election day proved peaceful; international observers deemed the process orderly and transparent, contradicting President Gustavo Petro's claims of fraud. After a delay, Cepeda accepted the results on June 7. A runoff is scheduled for June 21; the winner is to take office on August 7. Since the late 1990s, Congress generally has sought to foster closer security and economic ties with Colombia. The 119t Congress has reduced foreign assistance to Colombia and placed additional conditions on that assistance, however, due to concerns about the Petro government's security policies, which Cepeda supports. De la Espriella, a criminal defense lawyer, advocates a military-led security policy. President Trump endorsed de la Espriella, a move that President Petro rejected as election interference. Congress may examine the candidates' platforms to assess their possible implications for Colombia and U.S.-Colombian relations. Domestic Context and Campaign The legacy of outgoing President Petro, a polarizing figure whose popularity has risen since November, has influenced the elections. Supporters have praised Petro's focus on reducing inequality through labor reform and historic minimum wage increases despite his government's corruption scandals. The Petro administration's de-emphasis of coca eradication has coincided with record cocaine production. The government's total peace negotiations involving ceasefires with illegally armed groups may have bolstered such groups' power and fueled violence. Colombia's March 8 legislative elections illustrated a left-right division among voters regarding how best to address security and economic issues amid continued fragmentation in the party system. PH captured the most Senate (25 of 103) and House of Representatives (43 of 183) seats, and the conservative Democratic Center (CD) garnered the second-largest number in both chambers (17 and 28, respectively). At least two dozen other parties and alliances won seats. Whomever is elected president will have to form legislative alliances to advance legislation. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12689 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress