Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office announced on Monday that left-wing senator Iván Cepeda and conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, a vocal admirer of former U.S. President Donald Trump, will face off in a final runoff election on 21 June to determine who will lead the country’s top anti-corruption prosecutor’s office. The election, which follows a first-round vote on 14 June, marks a pivotal moment in Colombia’s ongoing battle against graft, with the two candidates offering starkly different visions for the institution’s future.
The runoff pits Cepeda, a longtime critic of Colombia’s political establishment and a former presidential candidate for the leftist Common Alternative Revolutionary Pole (POLO), against de la Espriella, a former prosecutor and congressman who has aligned himself with right-wing factions in Colombia’s Congress. De la Espriella’s campaign has drawn particular attention for his public praise of Trump, whom he has called a “model for strong leadership” in combating corruption—a stance that has resonated with conservative voters but also raised concerns among human rights advocates about potential shifts in the office’s independence.
Cepeda, who has spent decades investigating state violence and corruption, including the 2006 assassination of his father, human rights lawyer Rodrigo Granda, has framed his campaign as a defense of the Attorney General’s Office against what he describes as “political interference.” In interviews, he has warned that de la Espriella’s election could weaken the institution’s ability to pursue high-profile cases, including those involving former presidents and powerful business elites. “This is not just about who leads the office—it’s about whether Colombia’s fight against corruption will continue or be undermined by political calculations,” Cepeda told reporters last week.
De la Espriella, meanwhile, has emphasized his record as a prosecutor, pointing to his past work on financial crimes and his criticism of what he calls “excessive politicization” of the Attorney General’s Office under previous administrations. His campaign has received support from conservative lawmakers, including members of the Democratic Center party, which has historically opposed left-wing candidates. Analysts note that de la Espriella’s alignment with Trump-aligned factions in Colombia—particularly those skeptical of progressive reforms—could signal a shift toward a more hardline approach to corruption investigations, potentially targeting cases that implicate left-wing politicians or social movements.
The runoff comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny for Colombia’s anti-corruption institutions. Earlier this month, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a report warning of “growing attacks” on prosecutors and judges investigating cases tied to paramilitary groups and drug trafficking. While neither candidate has directly addressed the IACHR’s findings, their campaigns have reflected broader divisions in Colombia over the pace and direction of judicial reforms.
Cepeda’s campaign has also faced internal challenges within his own party, with some POLO members expressing frustration over his decision to run for the Attorney General’s Office instead of focusing on legislative work. However, his supporters argue that the stakes are too high to step aside, pointing to recent revelations of corruption within Colombia’s military and intelligence agencies. “If we don’t defend this office now, we risk losing the progress we’ve made in holding powerful actors accountable,” said Claudia López, Bogotá’s mayor and a POLO ally, in a statement last week.
The election results will be certified by Colombia’s National Electoral Council (CNE), which has faced its own controversies in recent years over allegations of partisan influence. Observers will be watching closely to see whether the runoff reflects broader trends in Colombia’s polarized political landscape, where left-wing and right-wing factions have increasingly clashed over issues ranging from peace negotiations with armed groups to economic policies. With the final vote just days away, the outcome will not only shape the future of Colombia’s anti-corruption efforts but also signal the direction of the country’s judicial independence in the years ahead.
