Colombians in the capital city of Bogota expressed divided opinions on Monday (June 1) after a first-round presidential election that resulted in a right-wing, outsider candidate winning the poll and the ruling-party candidate finishing in second place.

Right-wing Colombian lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella and leftist senator Ivan Cepeda will compete in a June presidential runoff after a tight vote on Sunday, in a contest dominated by voter concerns over security and the economy to which each candidate has offered populist solutions.

The two men were close in vote tallies, with De La Espriella, who has never held elected office, notching nearly 44% support and Cepeda, a long-time senator and activist, just under 41%.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (JUNE 1, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF DRONE FOOTAGE OF BOGOTA STREETS

2. PEDESTRIANS CROSSING STREET

3. COMMUTERS GETTING OFF BUS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST, JORGE RESTREPO, SAYING:

"We have a resounding victory by an opposition candidate (Ed's note: referring to Abelardo de la Espriella), an opposition candidate that no one predicted, with the exception of one polling firm. He was far from winning a majority but this means we will see a runoff between a ruling-party candidate (Ed's note: referring to Iván Cepeda) and the opposition candidate."

5. PERSON ENTERING BANK OFFICE

6. PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK

7. VEHICLES ON STREET

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST, JORGE RESTREPO, SAYING:

"Difficult times are coming for the country. These three weeks (before the runoff) will be decisive, especially after candidate Iván Cepeda questioned the election results with three arguments that cannot be supported, in other words, without evidence. He said he doesn't recognise the election. This is worrying because it could lead to a constitutional rupture in Colombia. Plus, it could lead, for example, to protests in the streets that could take an aggressive turn. So we're in a risky situation."

9. VARIOUS OF SIGNS OF FIRST-ROUND WINNER ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, CAMILO SANCHEZ, SAYING:

"I am very happy because the people turned out in large numbers without the need to pay them for doing so, without granting contracts to them, without giving them anything. People want a good government, private investment and for people to believe in Colombia again."

11. STREET STAND

12. PEOPLE IN THE STREET

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, MANUELA CHAPARRO, SAYING:

"I think it's awful that Abelardo (de la Espriella) came in first. I don't think it's right because he has shown he's morally wrong. I hope in the second round people are aware of what's really going on there and put their hand on their heart and don't only think about themselves but about others too, and don't think individualistically, but about how their decisions affect others."

14. PERSON AT SHOESHINE STAND

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, EDGAR GARZON, SAYING:

"I think that if all Colombians get together and vote blank, it would be the best decision, because one (candidate) attacks the other saying he's a drug trafficker, a killer, that he kills and steals, and is a Chavista, and I don't know what else. And the other says the other is the same. So I disagree. For my part, I don't agree with either of them."

16. (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE OF TRAFFIC IN BOGOTA