Beyond Left and Right: Colombia’s 2026 Presidential Election

In this episode of 35 West, Associate Director Juliana Rubio sits down with Gabriel Cifuentes, co-founder of Greystone Consulting Group, to discuss Colombia’s upcoming May 31 presidential election. The conversation examines how Colombia’s election reflects a fragmented political landscape and a deeper debate over the future direction of the country. Rubio and Cifuentes discuss the main candidates shaping the race, the durability of President Gustavo Petro’s political project, and the growing divide between those calling for continuity and those seeking a sharper break from the current government. They also analyze how security has reemerged as a central campaign issue, particularly amid criticism of “Total Peace,” the persistence of armed groups, and the appeal of harder-line approaches to public order. The episode also explores the economic and governance challenges the next administration will inherit, including fiscal pressures, weak private investment, energy policy, and strained public services. Rubio and Cifuentes close with a discussion of U.S.-Colombia relations, Colombia’s role in the region, and the resilience of democratic institutions at a moment when polarization and populist politics are reshaping electoral debates across Latin America.