Bogota, June 21 (QNA) - Voters in Colombia are casting their votes Sunday in a second round of the presidential election, choosing between two candidates in the runoff: left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda and independent right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.

The first round, held last May and marked by intense competition, did not produce an electoral outcome.

The number of eligible voters in Colombia exceeds 41 million.

Polling stations opened for an eight-hour voting period starting at 8:00 a.m. local time, with preliminary results expected a few hours after the closure of polling stations.

Cepeda, 63, has pledged to continue the policies of President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, which include pensions for the poor, labor reforms supported by trade unions, and the continuation of peace talks with armed groups, alongside a temporary suspension of new oil projects.

De la Espriella, 47, calls for the opposite approach, including ending negotiations with armed groups, launching a large-scale military campaign against them, and strengthening the country’s oil and gas sector.

The winner of the presidency will face rising public debt and a divided parliament, which could hinder the passage of reform proposals.

Opinion polls suggest a lead for de la Espriella, who topped the first round with 43 percent of the vote, amid analyst expectations of a closely contested race. (QNA)