Following her victory in Sunday’s right-wing primary, presidential candidate Paloma Valencia confirmed Tuesday that she is evaluating a short list of five to six potential vice presidents as the race to succeed President Gustavo Petro enters a decisive phase. The announcement comes amid a frantic week of political maneuvering where Colombia’s leading contenders are racing to finalize their tickets before Friday’s deadline.
Valencia’s win in the “Gran Consulta por Colombia” has revitalized the Uribismo movement, positioning her as a primary challenger to frontrunner Ivan Cepeda of the left-wing Pacto Historico and far-right candidate Abelardo de La Espriella. While her opponents have already moved to consolidate their alliances, Valencia remains in deep negotiations with both members of her own coalition and outside figures to find a partner who offers ideological balance without compromising her core principles.
A significant focus of the current deliberations involves Juan Daniel Oviedo, the economist who finished second in Sunday’s consultation. Despite his strong showing and popularity among urban voters, Oviedo has set “red lines” for joining the ticket, including a firm defense of the 2016 Peace Agreement and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP)—positions that stand in direct opposition to Valencia’s long-standing political platform.
Valencia told reporters that she is looking for a complement rather than a “political chameleon,” emphasizing that neither she nor her eventual pick should have to betray their convictions to win votes.
Paloma Valencia will decide on her Vice President this week
The political landscape was further clarified on Monday when Ivan Cepeda announced indigenous leader Aida Quilcue as his vice-presidential formula, a move seen as a reinforcement of his coalition’s ties to social and ethnic movements in the Cauca region. Meanwhile, Abelardo de La Espriella has selected former minister Jose Manuel Restrepo, an academic and conservative heavyweight, intended to provide technical and economic gravitas to his radical-right campaign.
Sunday’s legislative results have also reshaped the power dynamics in the capital. The Pacto Historico emerged as the dominant force in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, securing over 4.4 million votes for the upper chamber.
This electoral strength provides a formidable legislative backing for Cepeda, while the Centro Democratico remains the second-largest force with approximately three million votes, underscoring a highly polarized electorate.
In response to the shifting environment, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced a significant reinforcement of security for the primary winners and their upcoming running mates. The move follows a traumatic year in Colombian politics marked by the assassination of high-profile candidates, including Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay.
The Ministry of the Interior is scheduled to meet next week to review specific protection protocols for the finalized presidential tickets as they prepare for a campaign season that international observers from the OEA are already monitoring closely for signs of fraud and violence.