Colombia is heading into a deeply polarized presidential election amid renewed armed conflict and rising violence ahead of the poll.

The election campaign ahead of the first-round voting on May 31 has become Colombia's deadliest in decades, marked by the assassination of a leading presidential candidate and a series of bomb attacks in the country's south.

On Tuesday, the motorcade of ruling party Senator Alexander Lopez came under fire on a highway in the conflict-ridden southwestern region. President Gustavo Petro blamed "a drug-trafficking armed group" for the attack.

For decades Colombia struggled with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla movement. In 2016, a historic peace accord was signed under which FARC agreed to disarm fully. However, dissident branches of the former guerrilla group are still active and are being blamed for the latest violence targeting former guerrillas and social leaders.

On Wednesday, Colombia's Central General Staff, the largest dissident branch of the FARC, and rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN) announced separate ceasefires ahead of this month's election.

The worsening situation has become the dominant campaign issue, with leading candidates offering sharply different approaches. Leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda has pledged to continue peace talks with armed groups, following the policy of ally President Gustavo Petro. Conservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, in stark contrast, has called for a military offensive. Another conservative candidate, Paloma Valencia, demanded immediate action and full backing for the armed forces.

An Invamer poll showed Cepeda leading with 44.3% support, ahead of De la Espriella at 21.5% and Valencia at 19.8%. A runoff vote is scheduled for June 21 if no candidate secures more than 50% of valid ballots.

Source: www.dw.com