Colombian Ex-Governor Drops Out of Election, Endorses Rival Candidate
As the first round of Colombia’s presidential election looms, former Magdalena Governor Carlos Caicedo announced his withdrawal from the race and his full support for government-backed candidate Iván Cepeda. His announcement was made during a press conference of the Pacto Histórico campaign, which is linked to President Gustavo Petro, on Monday, May 25.
By making this decision, Caicedo strengthens the front of support for Cepeda, who leads the polls and has been consolidating the support of key figures from the center-left and left-wing of Colombia’s politics.
Caicedo’s decision to endorse Cepeda comes in a time of political tension and concerns about electoral security in the country. The Colombian government has recently launched the “Democracy Plan,” a operation that mobilizes over 228,000 agents to protect candidates, voting stations, and digital systems during the electoral process. In addition, authorities have offered up to 1 billion pesos for tips that can help prevent attacks against Presidential candidates. The alliance between Caicedo and Cepeda was built around proposals aimed at reducing poverty and increasing social equity. Caicedo stated that Colombia needs a new economic model focused on generating jobs and redistributing income, and defended a large-scale agrarian reform and policies to support informal workers.
Candidate for the Pacto Histórico, Iván Cepeda, has been accumulating important support in recent months, including the former Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, Senator Clara López, and former Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo. The withdrawal of Caicedo’s candidacy and his endorsement of Cepeda strengthens the government’s campaign, which seeks to maintain the continuity of President Gustavo Petro’s political project, who has been in office since 2022. Caicedo’s decision to endorse Cepeda reflects a convergence of interests around poverty reduction and the promotion of social equity, two key elements of the Government Petro’s agenda.
The political movement occurs in a context of great expectation and tension, with the voting marked for Sunday, May 31. Caicedo’s endorsement of Cepeda may influence the electoral dynamic, particularly in the Colombian Caribbean region and the Magdalena department, where Caicedo has significant political influence. The Colombian presidential campaign has been marked by a series of alliances and endorsements, which seek to consolidate candidacies and strengthen disputed political proposals.
