President Gustavo Petro cast his vote in Colombia's presidential runoff election on Sunday, June 21, 2026 [1].

The event marks the final stage of the national election process to determine the next leader of the country. Petro's public endorsement of a specific candidate signals a clear effort to influence the outcome of the vote and ensure the continuity of his political legacy.

Petro delivered a speech during the installation of the second round after 7:45 a.m. [2]. The event took place in Bogotá, with reports placing the location at either the Plaza de Bolívar or the National Capitol [3, 4]. The president used the occasion to encourage massive citizen participation and to emphasize the transparency of the electoral process [5].

During the proceedings, Petro publicly showed his ballot, revealing his vote for Iván Cepeda [6]. Cepeda is one of two candidates remaining in the runoff, competing against Abelardo de la Espriella [7].

Petro said the day was an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the democratic process. He also said the importance of recognizing the final results and cautioned against international interference in the domestic election [5].

As his term concludes, Petro confirmed that he will hand over power on Aug. 7, 2026 [4]. This transition follows a high-stakes campaign where the president sought to mobilize voters to support his preferred successor to maintain the current government's trajectory.

“President Gustavo Petro publicly backed candidate Iván Cepeda during the second round of Colombia's presidential elections.”

The public nature of Petro's vote is a strategic move to consolidate support for Iván Cepeda in a polarized electoral environment. By openly endorsing Cepeda over Abelardo de la Espriella, Petro is attempting to transfer his political capital to ensure that his administration's policies survive the transition of power on Aug. 7.