To the presidential campaign Ivan Cepeda It fell on him like a bucket of cold water. 10.4 million votes that they imposed on Abelardo de la Espriella as the candidate with the most votes in the first round. And from the ruling party’s campaign there are those who hope that it has been cold enough to make him ‘wake up’ and distance him from his resistance to going to debates, improve his communications and intensify the digital agenda. Changes are coming that include President Gustavo Petro in the equation, despite the ban on participating in politics.
Although the Colombian left had never achieved so many votes at the polls and increased the numbers compared to Petro’s first round, the 9.7 million that Cepeda obtained were not received without fear. The official project was not only surpassed by one candidate newbie in the political arenabut also lost strength in key areas such as Bogotá, Cauca and Nariño, where happier figures were expected.
The unrest is such that the accusations of blame and culprits within the same project have been numerous in the last 24 hoursSome point to Cepeda’s closest circle and supposedly keeping him isolated and wary of the most innovative alliances and strategies, and others to the idea that the head of state would be imposing lines that make the scenario for the candidate more complex and radicalize him more.
The candidate Iván Cepeda and his vice-presidential formula Aida Quilcué at the Tequendama Hotel. Photo:PHOTO MAURICIO MORENO EL TIEMPO
The environment has influenced the campaign to not be very clear about its post-election strategy as to whether it should be tougher or lighter. An example of this is that Cepeda, just hours after talking about alleged electoral fraud, as Petro claims, backed down and said he had no proof. And the fact is that he would even have changed at the last minute the speech he gave at the event he held at the Hotel Tequendama to receive results.
What many agree on is that it is time to make important changes, since in three weeks they must add at least 3 million to those 9.7 million votes to think about repeating Casa de Nariño. How is still not very clear, because while some believe that the wisest thing would be to start rapprochements with centrist candidates, Sergio Fajardo and Claudia LópezPresident Petro seems willing to toughen the project and has already said that he will put himself “in front” to “win.”
“I will make my own decisions. (…) Let’s not be stupid, we don’t need foreigners who don’t live in the country, but in Miami and Italy. Nobody gives up here, here we are going to win and I myself will take the lead“Petro wrote on his X account, sparking new accusations of participating in politics despite being prohibited in the Constitution.
President Gustavo Petro casts the vote at table 1 of Congress. Photo:@MiltonDiazfoto / EL TIEMPO
In the Historical Pact they recognize that loyalty must be maintained to Petro for being the maximum leader of the project, but there have also been comments that for this second phase it would be necessary for Cepeda to begin to distance himself from the president and the pure-blooded left. This would make conversations with Fajardo, López and even more possible. Juan Daniel Oviedoall previously criticized by the left.
This is in the making, but what would already be a fact is that Cepeda will reinforce its digital strategy and for this new figures would join the team. According to members of the campaign, in these three weeks the advertising on social networks will increase, an axis that De la Espriella dominates.
From within the project they also mention that Cepeda should seek advice from other politicians and experts and reconfigure his ring of those who speak in his ear. This would include, as mentioned, the congresswoman María José Pizarro, David Flórez, Gabriela Parra and strategist Alberto Cienfuegoswho advised the Democratic Pole and stood right next to Cepeda in his speech after the results were known.
Iván Cepeda with strategist Alberto Cienfuegos. Photo:Daniel López – CEET
Flórez has been accompanying Cepeda for many years, he sought to reach the Congress for Commons and is the leader of the left-wing group Alternative. Parra has just left his communication duties at the Legislative Work Unit (UTL) to dedicate herself exclusively to the campaign and her role as a representative to hold a debate with De la Espriella.
The names, well known in the campaign, are, for the moment, the target of accusations due to Cepeda’s results at the polls. There are even some sources that say that Petro also expressed his discomfort with the campaign, because the figures are not what was expected and that despite the entire agenda that he advanced on the Caribbean Coast to encourage the electorate and the interviews he gave in the media and influencers.
There is expectation about what Petro’s next move will be, since he has summoned his entire cabinet to a meeting at the Casa de Nariño. There are already at least 142 files open in the Attorney General’s Office against public officials for participation in politics.
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The campaign is also reviewing which departments did not vote according to their predictions. Bogotá, where 2 million votes were expected (1.7 million Cepeda votes and 1.5 million De la Espriella votes) will be key. Boyacá (216,000 Cepeda votes and 337,000 De la Espriella votes) is being analyzed with some annoyance towards Governor Carlos Amaya, key for the Green Alliance to close ranks around Cepeda.
In turn, in Antioquia they expected one million votes, but they obtained 805,000 votes compared to the 1.7 million that the lawyer achieved.
The Pact believes that it has a greater chance of growing with respect to De la Espriella, who has already brought together the majority of the right-wing vote and expects a good portion of the 1.6 million supports that Paloma Valencia had this Sunday.
Many activists on the left want to believe that there is still much to do, but they recognize that Cepeda has to give in to his positions, increase spending on advisors and digital strategies, and clearly define what image he wants to project in these three weeks.
LAURA CATALINA PERALTA GIRALDO
Political Writing.
