Paramilitary Legacies Shape Colombia's High-Stakes Runoff
Colombia's presidential runoff pits Iván Cepeda, a leftist senator who backs a modified ‘total peace’ strategy, against Abelardo de la Espriella, a right‑wing lawyer who defended paramilitary leaders and has drawn Trump’s support; the contest focuses on how to curb violence and dismantle armed groups, with Cepeda pushing reform and accountability while De la Espriella advocates a tougher security approach amid enduring paramilitary legacies.