Colombia’s progressive presidential candidate Iván Cepeda alerted on June 8 on a right-wing false flag attack designed to alter the outcome of the upcoming June 21 presidential runoff election.

Iván Cepeda, the representative of the left-wing coalition Historic Pact, formalized his accusations through a public statement on social networks, pointing directly at the campaign of his conservative rival, Abelardo De la Espriella, as the coordinator of this simulated operation.

In this sense, the progressive candidate requested an official investigation into an alleged self-attack by right-wing rival Abelardo de la Espriella to manipulate the upcoming June 21 presidential runoff.

RELATED: 7 Dangerous Facts: Abelardo De La Espriella Threatens Colombia’s Peace

According to the left-wing leader, the planned self-attack aims to manipulate voters before the critical second-round vote. Consequently, Iván Cepeda confirmed he will deliver all gathered evidence to the General Prosecutor’s Office for an immediate investigation.

Additionally, the progressive leader will submit the documentation to the National Protection Unit (UNP, in Spanish). This administrative petition aims to assess the current security protocols of Abelardo De la Espriella, emphasizing the absolute necessity of preserving the lives of all participants in the political debate.

Text reads: “Statement: Bogotá D. C., June 7, 2026. Since the beginning of the election campaign, I have strictly observed democratic rules and the transparency with which public opinion must be informed about compliance with them. As a presidential candidate for the Historic Pact and the Alliance for Life, I would like to inform the public that, once the polls are over, I acknowledge the results of the first round of the presidential election.”

The legal request also includes protective measures for José Manuel Restrepo, who is the vice-presidential running mate of the right-wing candidate. The coalition seeks to guarantee a peaceful democratic process amidst rising tensions.

Electoral Sabotage Denounced

“Through various channels, I have been informed that the campaign of Abelardo de la Espriella is planning a controlled self-attack to influence the final results of the election”, Iván Cepeda stated in his official release. The candidate emphasized that such actions threaten the democratic stability of Colombia.

Meanwhile, the far right-wing candidate previously declared that he faces continuous threats against his life. Because of these security concerns, Abelardo De la Espriella regularly delivers public speeches behind armored glass shields during his campaign rallies.

The upcoming presidential runoff is scheduled for June 21. This second round follows the primary election held on May 31, where the conservative candidate obtained a narrow advantage over the progressive coalition.

In that first round, the candidate of the far right-wing movement Homeland Defender Movement (Defensores de la Patria, in Spanish) led the voting process. The conservative candidate obtained 10.3 million votes, which represented 43.78% of the valid ballots cast by citizens.

On the other hand, the candidate representing Historic Pact secured the support of 9.7 million voters, representing 40.98% of the total electoral participation.

Demands for Peace

Historically, the consolidation of peace and democratic guarantees remain fundamental demands for the Colombian people. Citizens demand an end to historical cycles of electoral violence that have repeatedly affected the country during previous democratic processes.

Social organizations and citizens demand an end to media smear campaigns. Various civil groups have requested international observation missions to closely monitor the voting process on June 21 to ensure transparency.

The political platform of the progressive alliance focuses its program on social transformation and economic justice. Their supporters advocate for a national model based on peace and distributive wealth distribution.

Conversely, the conservative program proposes a strategy centered on militarized security and a severe reduction of state institutions. These opposing views on development and security define the critical choice that Colombian voters face in the upcoming historic election.

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