Colombia elections take place as Abelardo de la Espriella leads polls

Progressive-leaning outlets emphasized the election as a critical test for the 2016 peace process, warning that de la Espriella's commitment to full-scale military confrontation could reverse hard-won peace gains at a time when violence remains at its worst since the accord. They highlighted threats to democratic institutions from his hardline agenda.

Centrist outlets presented a balanced account of the high-stakes contest, highlighting implications for both the peace process and US-Colombia relations, while noting concerns about adopting extreme governance models from other regional right-wing leaders.