Key facts
- Colombian leftist presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda will seek consensus for national reforms if elected.
- Cepeda is backing away from the possibility of a constituent assembly to create a new constitution.
- Cepeda came second in the first round of elections.
- The candidate aims to appeal to centrist voters.
Colombian leftist presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda announced in a video that he would pursue national reforms through consensus if elected in the second round, a shift from his previous support for a constituent assembly. Cepeda, who finished second in the initial election, is seeking to attract centrist voters by emphasizing a consensus-based approach rather than the creation of a new constitution. He previously stated support for an assembly only with wide public backing. Current President Gustavo Petro has supported the idea of an assembly, drawing criticism from centrist and right-wing figures who fear it could undermine democratic checks and balances. Cepeda, a 63-year-old lawmaker and son of a murdered communist leader, faces a challenge in appealing to centrist voters to overcome his rival, Abelardo De La Espriella, who is expected to gain support from other right-wing candidates eliminated in the first round. Cepeda accused De La Espriella of intending to dismantle social programs and protections for vulnerable populations.