By Carlos Vargas, Luis Jaime Acosta and Nelson Bocanegra
BOGOTA, May 31 (Reuters) - Colombians began casting ballots on Sunday in what is likely to be the first round of a presidential election, choosing between a leftist pledging to expand reforms, an independent businessman promising a security crackdown and a right-wing senator seeking to become the country’s first female leader.
Leftist Ivan Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator, has been leading opinion polls but looks likely to fall short of the 50%-plus support needed to avoid a June runoff. Surveys suggest he will face a much tougher contest in a second round, once right-leaning and centrist voters no longer have multiple candidates to choose from.
Cepeda, the son of a murdered communist leader, has promised to pursue peace with illegal armed groups through negotiations, a policy that has led to little progress under current leader President Gustavo Petro. He also plans to deepen reforms meant to reduce inequality and poverty, including by raising taxes on high earners, gifting 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) to victims of the country's six-decade internal conflict and expanding healthcare coverage.
Teacher Graciela Rojas, 46, said she wanted Petro's reforms to continue.
“I am supporting Cepeda with the hope that the country can stay on the path of change and achieve what was blocked during this term by right-wing lawmakers and the courts,” she said after voting in southwestern Bogota. Petro has used decrees to push through some policies blocked by courts, including a more than 20% increase in the minimum wage this year.
LAWYER WITH TOUGH-ON-CRIME AGENDA
Hot on Cepeda's heels is lawyer and businessman Abelardo De La Espriella, who has never held elected office, but whose style and policy proposals have drawn comparisons to El Salvador's Nayib Bukele.
Portraying himself as an outsider free from political baggage, De La Espriella, 47, has proposed a tough offensive against illegal armed groups, the construction of 10 megaprisons and poverty reduction through better education, healthcare and housing for the poorest.
“We believe that with Abelardo we can return to the path of growth and prosperity we had before the left came and destroyed everything," said Jhon Vergara, a 55-year-old auto mechanic. "We cannot allow this to keep going in the wrong direction. We have to think about future generations and the country we want to leave — in my case, for my grandchildren.”
De La Espriella, who has legally represented controversial figures including former Venezuelan minister Alex Saab, has warned Cepeda would ensure the continuation of Petro’s much-criticized economic policies, including a ban on new oil projects.
The lawyer says he has financed his campaign with his own resources, without receiving donations from parties or large companies. Reuters could not independently verify that claim.
RIGHT-WING CANDIDATE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Polling in third place is Paloma Valencia, a senator backed by former President Alvaro Uribe, and until recently the leading right-wing candidate in the race.
Valencia's platform has similarities to De La Espriella’s, including a hard line against corruption, drug trafficking and illegal armed groups. She also supports tax breaks for companies meant to create jobs and social programs to improve healthcare, education and housing, financed by renewed oil and gas exploration.
Valencia's invective against corruption resonated with landlord Antonio Pena, 69, who said he had voted for Petro in 2022.
"Four years ago I backed change, but I was deeply disappointed. What disappointed me most was seeing corruption continue as before and promises remain unfulfilled," he said.
More than 40 million Colombians are eligible to vote. Polling stations will be open until 4 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), with definitive results expected within several hours, authorities have said.
(Reporting by Carlos Vargas, Luis Jaime Acosta and Nelson Bocanegra, Editing by Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gaffen and Deepa Babington)
