Abelardo de la Espriella (C), an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, is seen at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term. Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua)

BOGOTA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry.

With 97.58 percent of the ballots counted, de la Espriella received 43.77 percent of the vote, while Cepeda garnered 40.88 percent, according to the preliminary results. Paloma Valencia, representing the right-wing Democratic Center party, ranked third with 6.91 percent.

Colombians voted on Sunday to elect a president and vice president for the 2026-2030 term. More than 41.4 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots at around 13,000 polling stations across the country. Polls opened at 8 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and closed at 4 p.m.

Under the country's electoral system, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round to be elected outright. As no candidate crossed that threshold, de la Espriella and Cepeda will face each other in a runoff on June 21. The winner will take office on Aug. 7. ■

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

A voter registers at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

A voter is seen at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

Ivan Cepeda (1st R), candidate of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, is seen at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro casts his ballot at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

Voters wait to cast ballots at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

A voter is seen at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

Voters wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)

A voter is seen at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 31, 2026. Polls opened across Colombia on Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, with voters casting ballots to elect a president and a vice president for the 2026-2030 term.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an independent candidate associated with the far-right Defenders of the Homeland movement, and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling left-wing Historic Pact coalition, advanced to the presidential runoff after emerging as the top two candidates in Sunday's first-round vote, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)