Presidential candidates Iván Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella exchanged messages on May 5, 2026 [1], regarding the organization of a public debate.

The dispute highlights the tension among the three leading presidential candidates [2] as they vie for voter attention in the final days before the national election.

The exchange began following remarks made by Cepeda in Cali. Cepeda said the organization of a public debate was necessary so that citizens could hear the proposals of each candidate directly [3].

De la Espriella responded to the call by demanding a face-to-face format. He said such an encounter should occur without "padrinos," or sponsors [3].

While some reports indicate de la Espriella set a specific date for the encounter, other accounts suggest the push for a public debate was prompted by candidate Paloma Valencia [4, 5]. The disagreement over the format continues as some proposals suggest the event could be streamed via the Kick platform [6].

This public friction occurs as candidates navigate different media strategies to reach the electorate. The demand for a direct confrontation without intermediaries reflects a broader struggle over who controls the narrative of the presidential race [3, 6].

“Cepeda urged a debate so citizens can directly hear each candidate’s proposals”

The disagreement over the debate's format, ranging from traditional face-to-face meetings to digital streams on platforms like Kick, indicates a shift in Colombian political campaigning. By rejecting 'sponsors' and embracing streaming, candidates are attempting to bypass traditional media gatekeepers to appeal directly to a younger or more digitally active electorate.