Ghost of paramilitaries looms over Colombia’s presidential runoff vote

Colombians are set to vote on Sunday in a presidential runoff that will choose the country’s next leader between two candidates whose lives have been shaped differently by the paramilitary militias and criminal networks tied to Colombia’s long armed conflict, according to a report published Thursday by The Guardian.

The Guardian said the conflict has claimed nearly half a million lives over decades, leaving lasting effects on communities, families, and local institutions. In that context, the runoff is not only a contest of policy proposals, but also a ballot in which the personal histories of the two contenders are closely intertwined with criminal forces that have operated at the center of the war.

The report frames the election as high-stakes for public order and safety because the paramilitaries are described as far-right militias whose legacy extends beyond armed clashes into politics and the lived experience of voters. The “ghost” element underscores the persistence of those networks in the national imagination, even as the country moves through regular electoral processes.

According to The Guardian, whichever candidate wins Sunday will lead while carrying a personal record linked to one of the armed groups at the heart of the conflict. The contrast, as characterized by the report, is stark: the candidates are portrayed as having visions for the country that are “poles apart,” shaped by the different ways their lives have been affected by militia violence and influence.

The runoff also raises questions for the electoral system and for Colombian governance about how far the country has moved from the conflict’s shadow and how institutions account for the role of armed actors in public life. The Guardian’s framing places the spotlight on accountability and the extent to which the political system can insulate democratic choice from the continuing influence of criminal power.

In practical terms for voters, the election occurs at a moment when many communities have a direct family or neighborhood connection to the conflict’s violence. The Guardian’s account ties the runoff to that social reality, describing how the conflict’s human toll has been carried forward across generations and remains relevant to how citizens evaluate leadership and security.

The vote is scheduled for Sunday, when Colombians will choose between the two finalists. The Guardian’s report suggests that the outcome will determine not only the next presidential term, but also how the country’s next phase of governance is framed by the continuing presence of paramilitary-linked histories in the national contest.