Presidential candidate and former Bogotá mayor Claudia López said that Colombia's political center should be given the opportunity to lead the presidency.
This push for a centrist alliance seeks to break the traditional polarization between left- and right-wing blocs. If successful, it could shift the trajectory of the 2026 presidential election, which is scheduled for March 8, 2026 [1].
Speaking during the #ElPaísDeLosJóvenes event broadcast by Caracol Televisión, López said she has a platform focused on social reforms and peace initiatives. She specifically noted the need to address the legacy of "falsos positivos" — the extrajudicial killings of civilians by security forces — and to advance a total peace agenda [2].
López has sought to build a broad coalition to make the center a viable governing option. However, the path to unity has been inconsistent. While she achieved a clear victory in the center consultation, some reports indicate that the center has struggled to convince a wide base of voters, and that support for López and Sergio Fajardo has declined [3], [4].
Internal friction also exists within the movement. López and former minister Juan Fernando Cristo have been engaged in a public confrontation regarding the issue of a constituent assembly [5]. Despite these tensions, some reports suggest the center alliance remains dependent on decisions from Cristo and Fajardo [6].
To consolidate this movement, the center consultation was narrowed to two registered precandidates [7]. López said she is open to a potential second-round alliance with Paloma Valencia to secure a victory in the general election [8].
“Colombia's political center should be given the opportunity to lead the presidency.”
López's strategy represents an attempt to capture the 'exhausted middle' of the Colombian electorate. By framing the center as the only viable bridge between extreme ideologies, she is positioning herself as a stabilizing force. However, the public disputes over the constituent assembly and fluctuating poll numbers suggest that the center may struggle to maintain a cohesive identity against more disciplined partisan machines.
