Presidential candidates Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda have publicly accused each other of planning staged self-attacks to influence Colombia's upcoming runoff election.

These mutual allegations surface during a high-stakes period for the nation's stability. If the public perceives the electoral process as manipulated through manufactured crises, it could undermine the legitimacy of the eventual winner and incite civil unrest before the vote.

On June 8 [4], Cepeda said that a supposed plan for a self-attack would take place in the days leading up to the second-round vote [2]. He said the maneuver was intended to create a sense of chaos to sway voter perception.

De la Espriella countered with his own allegations, targeting both Cepeda and Gustavo Petro. He said he obtained information regarding the preparation of a self-attack by the campaign of the Pacto Histórico candidate [1].

The two candidates have spent the last several weeks intensifying their campaigns. Closure events were held on May 22 [1] in Bogotá and Barranquilla, followed by further events on May 23 [2] in Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Envigado.

Despite the public sparring between the candidates, government authorities have not validated these claims. A spokesperson for the security agency said there is still no official information to substantiate alleged plans for self-attacks to influence the voting [3].

The accusations come as the country prepares for the second-round presidential election scheduled for June 21, 2026 [3]. Both campaigns are now focused on the final stretch of the race, though the rhetoric has shifted toward accusations of electoral sabotage.

“Obtuve información sobre la preparación de un autoatentado por parte de la campaña del candidato del Pacto Histórico.”

The exchange of 'autoatentado' accusations reflects a deepening polarization in the Colombian presidential race. By claiming the opponent is staging a fake attack, both candidates are attempting to preemptively frame any future security incident as a political ploy rather than a genuine threat, effectively weaponizing the concept of 'fake news' to destabilize the opponent's credibility before the June 21 runoff.