Colombia Votes in a Presidential Election That Tests Its Leftist Turn

Colombians voted on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that will measure the durability of the country's first leftist government. The New York Times reported that the contest sets the legacy of President Gustavo Petro against a rising far-right outsider and a traditional conservative.

The constitution bars Petro from a second term, and The Japan Times noted that his strategy of seeking total peace with armed groups has failed to end the country's internal conflict, making security a central issue. Iván Cepeda, a left-wing senator representing Petro's movement, leads the race, with the lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and the conservative Paloma Valencia behind him.

Polling cited by regional outlets placed Cepeda well ahead but short of the majority needed to win outright. A mid-May survey put Cepeda at about 44.6 percent, which would force a runoff on June 21 between the top two finishers. A candidate needs more than 50 percent to avoid a second round.

Colombia is a significant oil and coal exporter, and its energy and fiscal policy depends heavily on the direction of the next government. A continuation of Petro's program would point toward a faster shift away from fossil-fuel investment, while a conservative win would likely reverse it.