Colombia: De la Espriella leads Cepeda days before the second round, according to a poll

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella is leading in voting intentions against his left-wing rival Iván Cepeda, as the second round of the presidential election scheduled for June 21 in Colombia approaches, according to a poll published Wednesday by the AtlasIntel institute.

According to this opinion poll, Abelardo de la Espriella would obtain 52,6% of the valid votes, compared to 44,8% for Iván Cepeda. The gap, relatively clear at this stage of the campaign, underscores a momentum favorable to the conservative candidate just days before the decisive vote.

This second round promises to be particularly tense in a political context marked by strong ideological divisions. De la Espriella is supported by right-wing circles and positions himself as an alternative to the outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, while Cepeda represents the continuity of the left in power.

The poll comes as both candidates intensify their efforts to convince undecided voters, whose vote could be decisive in an election that is still open despite the lead shown by the right-wing candidate.

Analysts point out, however, that opinion polls at this stage of the campaign do not guarantee the final result, as electoral dynamics can still change rapidly depending on debates, political alliances and voter turnout.

This election is being closely watched in Latin America, where several countries are experiencing significant political realignments between left-wing and right-wing movements. The outcome of the second round in Colombia could therefore have repercussions on the regional political balance in the coming months.