BOGOTA, May 20 (Reuters) – Rebels from Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) said on Wednesday that they will hold a three-day unilateral ceasefire for the first round of the presidential election.
The ceasefire aims to respect Colombians’ right to vote, ELN said in a statement, as voters will head to the polls on May 31 to elect the next president, who will serve from 2026 to 2030.
• The ceasefire will run from midnight on May 30 to midnight on June 2, the ELN added.
• Colombia’s government suspended peace talks with the rebel group last year following a string of ELN attacks in the country.
• The three main presidential candidates are Ivan Cepeda of Petro’s leftist Historic Pact coalition and two conservative rivals – Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Center and independent businessman Abelardo De la Espriella.
• A recent Invamer poll showed Cepeda garnering 44.3% of voting intention, with De la Espriella at 21.5% and Valencia at 19.8%.
• Incumbent Gustavo Petro is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term.
• If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes, a runoff will take place on June 21.
• There was no immediate response from the government to the ceasefire announcement.
(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Kylie Madry)
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