Presidential candidates Iván Cepeda, Paloma Valencia, and Abelardo de la Espriella held their final campaign rallies on Sunday, May 23 [1].
These closures represent the final push to mobilize voters before the first-round presidential election. The events serve as the definitive transition from active campaigning to the mandatory electoral silence period.
Three leading candidates [2] focused their efforts on key urban centers to secure a broad base of support. In Barranquilla, located in the Atlántico department, events took place at the Malecón and along the Carrera 50 thoroughfare [3]. These locations were chosen to maximize visibility and gather large crowds of supporters before the legal deadline for campaigning.
While some reports suggested activities occurred on Friday, May 22, other records indicate the closures took place on Sunday, May 23 [1, 4]. The candidates used these rallies to summarize their platforms and urge their followers to turn out for the vote.
The electoral calendar requires all formal campaigning to cease before the first-round election, which is scheduled for May 31, 2026 [5]. This period allows voters to consider the candidates' proposals without the influence of active political advertising or mass rallies.
Paloma Valencia, representing the uribista movement, and her competitors focused on mobilizing diverse demographics in the coastal region [3]. The atmosphere in Barranquilla remained a focal point for the closing stages of the race as candidates sought to capture undecided voters in the Atlántico department.
“Three leading candidates focused their efforts on key urban centers to secure a broad base of support.”
The concentration of final rallies in strategic cities like Barranquilla suggests that candidates are prioritizing high-density urban areas to swing the first-round results. With the May 31 vote approaching, the focus has shifted from policy debate to raw mobilization, emphasizing the importance of voter turnout in the Atlántico department for those seeking a path to the presidency.
