High-Stakes Colombian Elections to Reshape Political Landscape

Colombians vote in a pivotal election to choose a new Congress and presidential candidates. The election, under high alert due to political violence, also features key battles between President Gustavo Petro's party and the opposition. Observers, citizens, and thousands of candidates are engaged in shaping Colombia's future politics.

Colombians are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect a new Congress and choose candidates from three primary coalitions, in a contest that comes ahead of the May presidential election. The elections take place amid heightened risks of political violence, particularly in rural areas dominated by illegal armed groups.

President Gustavo Petro has expressed doubts about the country's election software, following substantial gains by his Historic Pact movement in the 2022 legislative recount, which he attributed to the presence of election observers. The EU has deployed 40 observers with plans to expand their number for this critical vote.

With 41.2 million eligible voters, Sunday's election will set the stage for Colombia's future leadership, as the presidency remains out of Petro's reach due to constitutional limits. The current Congress has endorsed some of Petro's reforms but not without significant tension, as the right-wing opposition, led by former President Álvaro Uribe, aims to reclaim political dominance.