Ruptly
"Defensores de la Patria presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella cast his vote on Sunday in the city of Barranquilla as part of the election that will determine Colombia's next president for the 2026-2030 term. The footage shows De la Espriella arriving at La Enseñanza school surrounded by bodyguards. He was greeted by supporters waving flags and chanting messages of support. Before casting his ballot, the candidate greeted those present and briefly posed for the media. A criminal lawyer and businessman, De la Espriella built his candidacy around a platform focused on security, the defense of private enterprise and criticism of the policies of President Gustavo Petro. Among his main government proposals are the eradication of 330,000 hectares of coca crops, the strengthening of the security forces and the creation of an Anti-Corruption Search Bloc under the direction of the Presidency. On economic matters, he proposes achieving annual growth rates of 7 percent and promoting the so-called Solidarity Harvest Plan, an initiative aimed at combating poverty and fostering the development of the productive sector. To win the presidency in the first round, a candidate must obtain more than 50 percent of the valid votes. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the two candidates with the highest vote totals will face each other in a runoff election scheduled for June 21, which will determine Colombia's next president. Current President Gustavo Petro is not participating in the election because the Colombian Constitution prohibits immediate presidential re-election."
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