Colombia is heading toward the first round of presidential elections on May 31, 2026, with 13 candidates in the race, in a scenario marked by political fragmentation and a strong concentration of voter support among a few contenders.

The next president will take office on August 7, following the end of President Gustavo Petro’s term, marking the transition from the country’s first left-wing government in recent history.

According to pre-election polls, only five candidates exceed 2% in voter intention, leaving most with limited chances of reaching the presidential palace. Among the leading contenders are Iván Cepeda, the candidate of the ruling Pacto Histórico, who leads polls with between 35% and 43% support; right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, with between 16% and 24%; and Paloma Valencia of the Centro Democrático party, with between 14% and 21%.

A second group includes centrist candidates Claudia López, polling between 3% and 4%, and Sergio Fajardo, at around 2.5%, reflecting a fragmented vote within that political segment.

Vice presidential picks shape campaign strategies

As the campaign unfolds, candidates have selected their running partners as a key strategy to broaden their electoral appeal.

Iván Cepeda has chosen Aida Quilcué, an Indigenous Nasa leader from southwestern Colombia, reinforcing the campaign’s leftist profile and its emphasis on including historically marginalized communities in political decision-making.

Quilcué has served as a governor and Indigenous authority in her community and, like Cepeda, is a victim of Colombia’s armed conflict: her husband was killed by state agents in 2008. She has been affiliated with the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC) and the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). She presents herself publicly as an Indigenous leader, human rights defender and senator (2022–2026), without reporting formal higher education credentials.

Abelardo de la Espriella has selected former Finance, and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister, Juan Manuel Restrepo, as his running mate, forming a ticket focused on security and economic strengthening. “That is a capability I have because I understand productivity, competitiveness and economic development,” Restrepo told La Silla Vacía during his registration.

Restrepo is an economist with a specialization in finance from Rosario University, a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics, a specialization in senior management from INALDE Business School, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Bath. He has also served as rector of three major universities in Colombia.

Juan Daniel Oviedo, a former Bogotá city councilor, is running alongside Paloma Valencia of the Centro Democrático party. As economist from Universidad del Rosario, Oviedo holds a master’s degree in mathematical economics and econometrics and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Toulouse in France.

He previously served as head of Colombia’s National Statistics Agency (DANE) during the Iván Duque administration and ran for mayor of Bogotá in 2023.

His vice presidential bid gained momentum after securing more than 1.2 million votes in the March 8 inter-party primary, finishing second. His selection aims to attract centrist and center-right voters and strengthen Valencia’s chances of advancing to a potential runoff.

However, his nomination has sparked controversy, as it marks the first time the right-wing party has chosen a candidate with liberal positions on issues such as women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights.

Claudia López selected Leonardo Huerta, a university professor of law and philosophy, as her running mate. According to Spain’s El País, he comes from “a working middle-class family,” is the youngest of four siblings, and is married with two children.

Huerta is a lawyer from Universidad Libre and holds a degree in philosophy from the Technological University of Pereira. He has a master’s degree in administrative law and is a doctoral candidate in law. His public sector experience includes serving as education secretary in Pereira and as a deputy ombudsman for health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Sergio Fajardo selected Edna Bonilla as his running mate, reinforcing a campaign centered on education and dialogue. Bonilla previously served as Bogotá’s education secretary during Claudia López’s administration (2020–2023).

She is a public accountant from the National University of Colombia, holds a tax specialization from Externado University and a doctorate in political studies. During the campaign launch, Fajardo said: “We will work together to deliver the serious and safe change Colombia needs. To move beyond polarization and build bridges instead of trenches.”

Voter participation

According to Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil, which oversees elections, a total of 41,421,973 citizens are eligible to vote in Colombia and abroad in the first round of the presidential election. Of these, 21,298,492 are women and 20,123,481 are men.

If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held on June 21, 2026, between the top two candidates.

At the heart of the controversy is a strategic piece of land known as ‘Aguas Vivas’, spanning 142,000 square meters (about 35 acres) in Medellín’s  El Poblado neighborhood. The property, with 70% of its area designated as protected rural land, was originally set aside for public use under former mayor Federico Gutiérrez’s administration. In 2019, its owners agreed to donate the area to the city for the development of a park as part of an urban planning agreement.

However, in 2020, under Quintero’s administration, the decision was reversed. The property was returned to its original owners, and a decree was signed reclassifying its use without approval from the Medellín City Council as required by law, significantly increasing its market value. According to the investigation of the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, Quintero and his administration planned to have the city repurchase the land at an inflated price—close to $50 billion COP ($12 million USD as of the date of publication)—to incorporate it into the ambitious project ‘Valle del Software’. The investigation into Quintero’s administration has also extended to other public contracts and financial management decisions, further entangling several key officials in the legal process.

The Aguas Vivas scandal is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of irregular modifications under Quintero’s administration. Similar allegations have surfaced regarding the neighboring ‘Guacharacas’ and ‘La Volcana’ lots, which had their classification changed from protected land to developable land.

These alterations were designed to benefit private landowners, who would then sell the properties back to the city at inflated prices. However, in July 2024, it was Quintero who first warned about irregularities with these properties, blaming the administration of Federico Gutierrez and asking the prosecutor’s office to investigate.

“I have filed a criminal complaint seeking an investigation into Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and his officials for what I have dubbed the “Lot Cartel” [Cartel de los lotes]. It involved the increase in the value of private lots by the Medellín Mayor’s Office up to 100 times their actual value, which were then transferred to the Medellín real estate fund, enriching their owners in seconds,” Quintero said via X at the time.

However, his allegations have failed to gain traction and he is the one at the spotlight as the case unfolds. The Office of the Attorney General has charged Quintero, nine former officials, and three people from the private sector with crimes including embezzlement, undue interest in public contracts, and malfeasance. Among those under scrutiny are Carlos Mario Montoya Serna, former Secretary of Territorial Management and Control (who allegedly endorsed the unlawful reclassification of the Aguas Vivas property), Sergio Andrés López Muñoz, ex-director of Urban Planning (accused of facilitating the bureaucratic processes that enabled the land’s rezoning), and José Fernando Rueda Salazar, private developer suspected of benefiting from the land deal.

Quintero’s attempt to shift the narrative by launching his presidential campaign in the midst of these accusations has largely backfired. Adding to the controversy, key political allies with legal troubles of their own, attended the event held last week including Senator Álex Flórez, Miguel Quintero (former mayor’s brother) and Óscar Hurtado (former Secretary of Finance of Medellín).

Headline photo: Quintero at the public gathering in Medellín where he announced his presidential candidacy on March 25 (Photo: X / @MiltonQuinonesC)