Colombians to Elect New President Sunday

Colombians will elect a new president and vice president Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Colombia’s constitution bars incumbent President Gustavo Petro from seeking reelection. There will be 14 candidates on the ballot.

Iván Cepeda, 63, a three-term senator from the Historical Pact coalition backed by Petro’s party, has promised to strengthen economic reforms that include major increases to the minimum wage, such as a 23% increase this year, along with higher taxes on wealth and corporate revenue.

Cepeda has also said he will continue peace negotiations with the nation’s remaining rebel groups and boost countryside development by subsidizing loans for small farmers through a state-run bank.

Abelardo de la Espriella, 47, running as an independent, has cast himself as an outsider without support from any of the nation’s main political parties. De la Espriella has promised to reduce state spending by up to 40% over the next four years and dismantle several government agencies, including the Ministry of Equality.

Paloma Valencia, 48, a senator from the Democratic Center party led by former President Álvaro Uribe, is backed by most traditional parties. Valencia and de la Espriella have said they will suspend peace talks with rebel groups, confront them with greater force, reduce taxes on businesses, and facilitate investments in oil and gas.

If no candidate receives 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held June 21 between the top two finishers. Cepeda has said he will seek a “national agreement” to pursue reforms but has also said that if no agreement is reached he will call for a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution. Valencia and de la Espriella are firmly against rewriting the nation’s constitution.