Polls have officially opened across Colombia for a high-stakes presidential election that finds the country deeply polarised.
An electorate of more than 40 million eligible voters is expected to head to the ballot boxes to choose a successor to outgoing President Gustavo Petro.
With 10 candidates on the ballot, voters are navigating a fiercely fractured political landscape. Polls indicate that three main contenders hold a viable path to securing a spot in the almost certain June 21 runoff.
Ivan Cepeda is a senator running under the banner of the ruling Pacto Histrico coalition, carrying the torch of continuity for Petro’s progressive base.
Abelardo de la Espriella is a flamboyant populist representing Salvacion Nacional, who has surged in popularity by channeling anti-establishment anger and promising an iron-fist approach to crime.
