Colombians vote for Congress and presidential primaries in tense election

Voters across Colombia cast ballots nationwide for a new Congress and took part in three interparty, primary-style consultations, a multifaceted vote that will help determine the May 31 presidential field and the next administration’s ability to pass legislation.

The contests covered 102 Senate seats and 182 seats in the House of Representatives, with more than 3,000 candidates competing for seats. Some 41.2 million eligible voters were able to participate in the consultations, which were organized around three broad blocs variously described as right, center and left, or as right, center and center-left. Winners of the consultations will move on to contest the first round of the presidential election.

Two leading figures who have dominated recent polls did not participate in Sunday’s consultations but will remain on the May 31 ballot. Iván Cepeda, a leftist and ally of President Gustavo Petro, and Abelardo de la Espriella, characterized in reporting as right-wing or far-right, were both absent from the intra-bloc votes. Supporters of Cepeda had gathered at a Pacto Histórico closing rally in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar on Feb. 27, underscoring the left’s organizational push into the congressional campaign.

The vote was held under a high security alert amid worries about political violence in rural regions where illegal armed groups operate. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said authorities had detected "a group of at least 2,400 people 'allegedly heading to vote' were detected trying to enter Colombia at an illegal border crossing with Venezuela in Norte de Santander, despite announced border closures during the election process." The government did not provide immediate public detail on whether those people were prevented from reaching polling stations.

Analysts warned the fragmented field could make governing difficult after the election. Polling and party fragmentation are expected to leave Congress divided among dozens of parties, forcing future presidents to build coalitions. "Any government will see its legislative proposals diluted" and have difficulty getting them approved, said Sergio Guzman, director of the consultancy Colombia Risk Analysis, summing up the challenge a new administration will face in a splintered legislature.

For many presidential hopefuls, the consultations were a way to measure strength ahead of May. Gabriel Cifuentes, a political analyst, called the primaries "a high-stakes gamble for the participants," adding that a victory on Sunday is only meaningful if it demonstrates enough strength to compete with the leading candidates, such as Cepeda and de la Espriella. The tactic has precedent: four years ago Gustavo Petro consolidated his base by winning the left-wing primary alongside Francia Márquez, who became his vice president.

Election officials and parties also faced concerns about voting technology: observers raised questions about election software reliability and security, though no systemic failures were reported during voting hours. The composition of the new Congress will be the immediate test of political balance in Bogotá and will shape which presidential ticket, if any, can command the parliamentary majorities needed to enact a program.