Colombians are heading to the polls for the second time in less than a month to decide their next president in a June 21 runoff that pits two starkly different visions for the country's future.

Left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, candidate of the governing Historic Pact coalition, has pledged continuity with outgoing President Gustavo Petro's anti-poverty measures and negotiations with armed groups. Cepeda's father, also a senator, was assassinated in 1994, and he has since advocated for victims of "state crimes."

His opponent, far-right criminal defense lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, has promised a break from establishment politics with a hardline security platform: ending all negotiations with armed groups, building 10 mega-prisons, and restarting aerial fumigation of coca crops. He has no previous political experience but portrays himself as a successful businessman and tenor.

In the first round on May 31, de la Espriella surprised pollsters by winning 43.7% of the vote against Cepeda's 40.9%, though neither secured a majority. President Petro initially rejected the results but later conceded no irregularities were found.

De la Espriella is expected to hold an advantage in the runoff, with polls showing him leading. AtlasIntel's June 13 poll gave him 50.9% support versus 43.1% for Cepeda, with 5.9% undecided or planning to nullify their votes.

US President Donald Trump has endorsed de la Espriella, calling him a "great patriot" and warning that a Cepeda victory could damage US-Colombia relations. The endorsement has drawn criticism as "shameless interference" from US Representative Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

Critics warn that de la Espriella's victory could veer Colombia in an uncharted direction, including withdrawal from international institutions and rolling back abortion rights. Sociologist Juan Acevedo cautioned: "The danger is that we return to times where everyone says the only way to solve problems is with bullets and more war."

Source: www.aljazeera.com