Former Colombian presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo said he will support Abelardo de la Espriella in the presidential runoff election.
This endorsement shifts the political landscape for the final stage of the contest. Fajardo represents a significant bloc of center-moderate voters whose alignment could determine the winner of the presidency.
Fajardo secured 1,008,864 votes [1] during the first round of voting on May 4. He said these supporters will be critical in deciding the future of the country, according to statements made to El País. By backing De la Espriella, Fajardo aims to maximize the probability of victory for a center-moderate coalition.
In a statement to El Colombiano, Fajardo said, "The victory of Abelardo de la Espriella is not improbable."
The move comes as the campaign enters its final phase. The second round of voting is scheduled for May 31, 2026 [2]. Fajardo has previously focused on mobilizing a specific segment of the electorate to create a political shift.
Earlier this month, Fajardo targeted the 28% of voters who remained undecided [3] to influence the outcome. He said his followers should push for a surprising result, saying, "Let's give the surprise" [3].
Fajardo's decision to align with De la Espriella follows a period of speculation regarding how his million-vote base would be distributed. The endorsement provides De la Espriella with a formalized bridge to the moderate wing of the electorate, a group that has historically sought a middle ground between Colombia's political extremes.
“"The victory of Abelardo de la Espriella is not improbable."”
Fajardo's endorsement transforms De la Espriella from a candidate of a specific niche into a broader coalition leader. By consolidating over one million votes and targeting the 28% of undecided voters, the alliance seeks to create a mathematical path to victory that overcomes the polarization of the first round.
