Presidential elections were held in Colombia on 27 May 2018.Resolution No 5552 National Civil Registry (Colombia) As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the second round of voting was held on 17 June. Incumbent president Juan Manuel Santos was ineligible to seek a third term. Iván Duque, a senator, defeated Gustavo Petro, former mayor of Bogotá, in the second round. Duque's victory made him one of the youngest individuals elected to the presidency, aged 42. His running mate, Marta Lucía Ramírez, was the first woman elected to the vice presidency in Colombian history.

The election was held following a peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, ending over 50 years of conflict. The elections were the first to occur since congress passed legislation in 2015 modifying the presidential term limits, restricting presidents to one four-year term with a formal ban on re-election. The bill also granted the runner-up candidate in a presidential election a seat in the senate, whilst their running mate would become a member of the chamber of representatives.

Duque, a lawyer and protege of former president Álvaro Uribe, was the nominee for the Democratic Center party. Duque, who was mostly unknown to the public before the election, had a platform encompassing support for innovation, economic recovery and staunch opposition to the peace agreement.

Petro, a former AD/M-19 member and nominee for the Humane Colombia party, ran a progressive populist campaign that focused on reducing inequality and implementing universal healthcare and environmental protection. Petro narrowly surpassed centrist candidate Sergio Fajardo in the first round by just over 1%, permitting him to qualify for the run-off.

Duque was victorious in the second round, earning 54% of the vote to Petro's 41%. Duque won 24 of Colombia's 32 departments, performed well in the inland regions and received over 77% of the vote in the Andean department of Norte de Santander. Duque assumed office on 7 August. Meanwhile, Petro became a senator, and later the future president of Colombia, whilst his running mate, Ángela Robledo, became a member of the chamber of representatives.

Background

During the previous election held in 2014, a second round was held as no candidate attained more than 50% of the vote. The candidates were incumbent president Juan Manuel Santos of the Party of the U and Óscar Iván Zuluaga of the Democratic Center. The election centred on the issue of how to continue peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). In the run-off, Santos defeated Zuluaga, earning 50% of the vote to his opponent's 44%.

In June 2015, both houses of congress approved legislation limiting presidents to a single four-year term with a formal ban on re-election, restoring the term limits that were in place before 2005. President Santos, who submitted the bill upon re-election in the 2014 presidential election, said the re-election ban would restore a balance of power in Colombia. The bill faced criticism from supporters and members of the Democratic Center party led by former president and rival of Santos, Álvaro Uribe. They argued the purpose of the bill's introduction was to prevent Uribe from seeking a non-consecutive third term to the presidency. Edward Rodríguez, a Democratic Center member of congress, described the re-election ban as "revenge against Uribe".

On 27 September 2016, the government signed a peace agreement with the FARC. A referendum took place on 12 October to ratify the deal; however, voters narrowly rejected it. President Santos then negotiated with staunch opponents of the agreement like Uribe and reentered into talks with the FARC. The FARC and the Colombian government agreed to a revised peace deal on 24 November. The modified agreement included changes, such as an agreement that the deal would not be part of the constitution. Rather than put the revised deal through another referendum for ratification, Santos sent the agreement to congress. The Senate voted to ratify the deal on 29 November, which was followed by the approval by the chamber of representatives. The ratification marked an end to 50 years of conflict.

Electoral system Colombian Presidents are elected for four-year terms using a two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff is held between the top two candidates. The Vice President is elected on the same ticket as the President. Presidents are limited to a single four-year term and Article 191 of the constitution requires candidates to be Colombian by birth and at least thirty years old.

In line with the constitution, Colombian citizens by birth or by naturalization, aged eighteen or older have the right to vote. Several scenarios can cause the loss of the right to vote, as outlined in the constitution. Citizens in detention centers can vote from the establishments determined by the National Civil Registry. The civil registry inscription is not automatic, and citizens must go to the regional office of the Registry to register.

Legislative act # 2 of 2015 established that the runner-up in the presidential elections is given a seat in the Senate and their Vice President candidate will become a member of the House of Representatives.

Candidates

The following lists display candidates in the order they appeared on the ballot and show the most recent political office they have held as of the time of the election.

Candidates in the runoff Party Presidential nominee Vice-Presidential nominee Coalition Humane Colombia Gustavo PetroMayor of Bogotá (2012–2014; 2014–2015) Ángela RobledoMember of the Chamber of Representatives for Bogotá(2010–2018) Social Inclusion for PeaceDemocratic Center Iván DuqueSenator (2014–2018) Marta Lucía RamírezSenator (2006–2009) Great Alliance for Colombia

Candidates not in the runoff

Party Presidential nominee Vice Presidential nominee CoalitionColombian Liberal Party Humberto De la Calle Ambassador to the OAS (2001–2003) Clara López (ASI) Minister of Labour (2016–2017) PLC–ASIWe Are All Colombia Jorge Trujillo Senator (2009–2010) Fredy Obando Citizens' Compromise Sergio FajardoGovernor of Antioquia (2012–2015) Claudia López (GA)Senator (2014–2018) Colombia CoalitionIndependent Germán Vargas Lleras Vice President of Colombia (2014–2017) Juan Carlos Pinzón (CR) Ambassador to the United States (2015–2017) Mejor Vargas Lleras

Electoral Alliances Party/alliancePresidential candidateVice Presidential candidateColombia Coalition Civic Compromise Alternative Democratic Pole Green AllianceSergio FajardoClaudia López Hernández United Liberalism Colombian Liberal Party Independent Social AllianceHumberto de La CalleClara LópezList of Decency Alternative Indigenous and Social Movement Human Colombia MovementCONSULTA POR LA INCLUSIÓN Y LA PAZ APROBADA - G. S. C. COLOMBIA HUMANA Patriotic Union Fuerza Ciudadana (Colombia)CONSULTA POR LA INCLUSIÓN Y LA PAZ APROBADA - G. S. C. FUERZA CIUDADANA Colombian Communist PartyGustavo PetroÁngela María RobledoGrand Alliance for Colombia Democratic CenterTARJETA GRAN CONSULTA POR COLOMBIA - G. S. C. LA PATRIA DE PIE For an Honest and Strong ColombiaTARJETA GRAN CONSULTA POR COLOMBIA - G. S. C. POR UNA COLOMBIA HONESTA Y FUERTE La Patria de Pie Movement Partido Somos Región Colombia Free and Fair Colombia MIRA PartyIván Duque MárquezMarta Lucía RamírezMejor Vargas Lleras Mejor Vargas Lleras Movement Ante Todo Colombia Movement Radical Change Social Party of National Unity Colombian Conservative Party Citizen OptionGermán Vargas LlerasJuan Carlos PinzónWe Are All ColombiaJorge Antonio TrujilloFredy Obando Pinillo

Candidates that withdrew The Common Alternative Revolutionary Force withdrew its presidential aspiration on 9 March 2018, stating the health problems of its candidate Rodrigo Londoño, as the reason.

Juan Carlos Pinzón, who had previously served as defence minister and ambassador to the United States under president Juan Manuel Santos, launched his candidacy for Casa de Nariño in 2017. Pinzón withdrew from the race on 16 March 2018 to become Vargas Lleras' running mate.

Piedad Córdoba and her vice presidential candidate Jaime Araújo Rentería terminated their candidacy on 9 April 2018.

Viviane Morales and her vice presidential candidate Jorge Leyva Durán, of the Somos Región Colombia party, retired their candidacy on 2 May 2018. After, Morales adhered to Iván Duque's campaign, while Leyva joined Germán Vargas Lleras' candidacy.

Primaries

Two coalitions, the right-wing Great Alliance for Colombia and left-wing Social Inclusion for Peace, held primary elections concurrently with the legislative elections on 11 March.

Great Alliance for Colombia Three candidates sought the nomination of the conservative Great Alliance for Colombia:

Iván Duque of the Democratic Center, a young lawyer who had served in the senate since 2014.

Marta Lucía Ramírez, formerly a Conservative party member, sought the nomination as an independent. Ramírez served as defence minister to Álvaro Uribe from 2002 to 2003 and was the first woman to hold that position. She had most recently served as a senator.

Alejandro Ordóñez, a former inspector-general who competed as a member of the La Patria de Pie party.

Results Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Center Iván Duque 4,044,509 67.76% Independent Marta Lucía Ramírez 1,538,882 25.78% La Patria de Pie Alejandro Ordóñez 385,110 6.45% Source: Semana

Duque won the nomination, and following his victory, he selected the runner-up, Ramírez, to be the alliance's vice presidential nominee.

Social Inclusion for Peace

The progressive Social Inclusion for Peace alliance was composed of Humane Colombia, the Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement, Patriotic Union and the List of Decency coalition. Two candidates sought the alliance's nomination:

Gustavo Petro of Humane Colombia was also endorsed by the Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement (MAIS). He had most recently served as mayor of Bogotá.

Carlos Caicedo, a member of the Citizen Force party and former mayor of Santa Marta, advocated for the government to engage in peace talks with the ELN.

Results

Party Candidate Votes % Humane Colombia Gustavo Petro 2,853,731 84.67% Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement Citizen Force Carlos Caceido 515,309 15.32% Source: Semana

Petro secured the nomination by a large margin and won all departments, losing only in Caceido's home department of Magdalena. Following the primary election, Petro selected Ángela Robledo of the Green Alliance and a member of the chamber of representatives as his running mate.

Campaign

According to polling data, significant issues amongst voters were unemployment, healthcare, corruption and the FARC peace agreement.