On June 22, 2026, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Marlon, the right-hand man of Ivan Mordisco, had been killed in combat with the regular army on the eve of the presidential elections. Mordisco leads the Central General Command (EMC), one of the main factions of dissidents from the former FARC organization, which rejects the peace agreement signed in 2016. The announcement was made just before the second round of the presidential election, where Mordisco's faction is opposed to both Petro’s political heir, Senator Ivan Sedera, and Abelardo de la Espriella, a wealthy lawyer representing the so-called hard-right wing.
Marlon was reportedly the leader of the EMC in the Cauca department (southwest Colombia) and responsible for the bombing attack earlier this April that claimed the lives of about twenty people. According to President Petro, this marks the most severe blow ever dealt to armed mafia-like structures in western Colombia, where the EMC has now been defeated. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that soldiers and police killed Marlon, who was described as the most dangerous killer, terrorist, and child soldier recruiter in the southern part of the country.
Marlon was among the most wanted criminals internationally and had been designated by the United States for drug trafficking and arms dealing in collaboration with Mexican cartels. His death was announced just before the second round of the presidential election, where his faction faces off against both Sedera and De la Espriella.
The situation in Colombia remains tense, with ongoing conflicts between armed groups and government forces. The death of Marlon could have significant implications for the upcoming election, as it highlights the continued presence of violence and instability in the region.
In another development, U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Abelardo de la Espriella on his victory in the Colombian presidential elections. De la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer from the hard-right, declared that he had contacted Trump by phone after his electoral victory over the leftist candidate Ivan Sedera. Trump expressed his support for De la Espriella during their conversation.
De la Espriella, who emerged victorious according to preliminary results, emphasized that he would strengthen relations between Bogotá and Washington, particularly focusing on cooperation in combating drug trafficking. Colombia continues to face serious security issues due to the activities of armed groups and criminal networks linked to the narcotics trade, a topic central to the pre-election debate.
According to preliminary results, De la Espriella narrowly defeated Sedera by less than one percentage point, leading by approximately 245,000 votes. Almost all polling stations across the country have been counted, marking the return of the right to power following the four-year tenure of Gustavo Petro, the first left-wing president in Colombia’s history.
As the results became known, Bogotá erupted into celebrations, with citizens taking to the streets, honking car horns, and blowing whistles. President Petro acknowledged the preliminary results but stressed that there is no official president until the vote count is completed as per the procedure. However, anti-Petro slogans were heard in the streets, with citizens chanting "Out with Petro."
During his campaign, De la Espriella transformed from a well-dressed Miami-based lawyer into a populist candidate wearing soccer jerseys and a straw hat. His campaign featured high-profile digital effects, including fire flames and videos of artificial intelligence with tigers, serving as mascots. He also used strong anti-Petro rhetoric, giving him distinctive political fame.
De la Espriella placed the restoration of security, tackling crime, saving the country from economic devastation caused by the left, and fighting corruption at the center of his campaign. His campaign had strong nationalist characteristics, using flags, soccer jerseys of the national team, and patriotic slogans such as "Firme por la patria!" ("Strong for the fatherland!")
He borrowed ideas and strategies from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Argentine President Javier Milei, two highly popular figures in Latin America. Like them, he adopted an aggressive tone, promising the construction of mega-prisons and reclaiming the country from progressive policies and "gender ideology," prioritizing God and family.
Critics of De la Espriella describe him as a potential authoritarian leader. His promise to hunt down criminals and crush the "narco-regimes" of Colombia, a term borrowed from Trump, resonated strongly with his supporters but raised concerns among opponents about the risk of new bloodshed and authoritarian practices.
"I hear it like a military regime," said Andrés Giovanny Camelo, a 44-year-old taxi driver in Bogotá.
A large portion of De la Espriella's support came from cities rather than remote rural areas, where armed groups fight over cocaine trafficking routes and illegal gold mining operations. He effectively utilized these factors to gain traction in urban centers, positioning himself as a candidate capable of restoring order and stability.
With the death of Marlon and the narrow victory of De la Espriella, the political landscape in Colombia appears to be shifting significantly, with implications for regional dynamics and international relations. The upcoming election will likely bring further developments, shaping the future direction of the country and its interactions with global powers.
3 reports
SKAIIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 6515 days agoThe Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, announced that Marlon, the right-hand man of Ivan Mordisco, was killed in a battle with the military forces ahead of the presidential election. Mordisco leads the Central General Command (EMC), a faction of former FARC rebels who oppose the 2016 peace agreement. The killing occurred in the western part of Colombia, where the EMC has been active. According to the defense minister, Marlon was responsible for attacks targeting indigenous communities and was linked to drug trafficking and arms smuggling, including ties to Mexican cartels. His death comes amid the second round of the presidential election, where Petro faces opposition from both a political heir and a candidate from the hard-right.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the killing of Marlon, a rebel leader, as a significant blow against armed groups, using terms like 'most dangerous murderer,' 'terrorist,' and 'child soldier.' It emphasizes the government’s success in defeating these groups and highlights the link between the EMC and criminality
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 65): The article provides specific details about the death of Marlon, a right-hand man of Ivan Mordisco, and links it to the presidential election context. However, it includes emotionally charged language like 'I don't like talking about dead people' and frames the conflict as a moral issue, which reduc
Proto ThemaIndependentConservativeFactual 75Objective 5515 days agoThe candidate supported by Donald Trump, Álvaro Delgado, appears to be leading in Colombia's presidential election with nearly 49.7% of the votes counted, according to preliminary results from the electoral authority. His main opponent, Ivan Duque, a leftist senator and longtime human rights advocate, received approximately 48.7%. A Delgado victory would end the four-year term of Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, and signal a shift toward conservative governance in Latin America during Trump's second term. Celebrations erupted in Bogotá as results were announced, though Petro emphasized that final results depend on vote verification. Delgado's campaign focused on restoring security, combating crime, reversing economic decline attributed to leftist policies, and fighting corruption. His strategy included nationalist themes, using national symbols like the flag and football jersey, and adopting tactics similar to those of El Salvador's Nayib Bukele and Argentina's Javier Milei.
Bias read (Conservative): The article emphasizes the potential return to conservative governance under Delgado, highlights his alignment with Trump, and frames his platform around nationalist and anti-leftist rhetoric. The tone favors Delgado’s campaign strategies and portrays his victory as a broader regional trend towards右
Why these scores (Factual 75 · Objective 55): This article states de la Espriella is leading with over 99% of votes counted but does not clarify if this is preliminary or final. The narrative leans toward celebrating a conservative return to power and mentions public celebrations, which may reflect a biased perspective rather than neutral repor
Proto ThemaIndependentCenterFactual 70Objective 5014 days ago Trump congratulates the Esprijas on their victory in the Colombian electionsThe article reports that Álvaro Duque, the newly elected president of Colombia, received congratulatory messages from U.S. President Donald Trump after his victory in the presidential election against leftist candidate Iván Duque. According to preliminary results, Duque won by a narrow margin, less than one percentage point, with around 245,000 votes ahead of his opponent. The win marks the return of the right wing to power in Colombia, ending the term of Gustavo Petro, the country’s first leftist president. Duque emphasized during his campaign his intention to strengthen relations with the United States, particularly in combating drug trafficking. The election results sparked celebrations in Bogotá, though Petro cautioned that the results were provisional until the vote count was finalized.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the election outcome and the subsequent congratulations from Trump, without overtly favoring either political side. It includes both the perspective of the winning candidate and mentions the opposition’s caution regarding the finality of the results. There’s
Why these scores (Factual 70 · Objective 50): The article reports Trump congratulating de la Espriella after his election victory but lacks specific details about the results or verification. It also presents de la Espriella as a clear winner without mentioning any uncertainty or potential disputes, showing bias toward the reported outcome.
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