Colombia's De la Espriella leads Cepeda in runoff poll


FILE PHOTO: File Photo: Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella of the political movement Defenders of the Homeland gestures as he addresses supporters after the results of the first round of the presidential election, in Barranquilla, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Sergio Acero/File Photo/File Photo

BOGOTA, June ⁠10 (Reuters) - Colombian right-wing presidential ⁠candidate Abelardo de la ‌Espriella leads leftist rival Ivan Cepeda ahead of the June 21 ​runoff, according to ⁠an AtlasIntel ⁠poll published on Wednesday, underscoring the ⁠tough ‌challenge facing the ally of President ⁠Gustavo Petro.

De la Espriella could ​win ‌52.6% of valid votes, compared ⁠with ​44.8% for Cepeda, the poll showed.

The runoff will ⁠pit two sharply different ​visions for Colombia's future. Cepeda has pledged to deepen Petro's ⁠social and economic reforms and pursue peace talks with armed groups, while ​De la Espriella ⁠has campaigned on a security ​crackdown and ‌more business-friendly policies.

(Reporting ​by Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

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