Iván Cepeda is a Colombian senator and leading figure of the left. He is known for bringing the "trial of the century" against Álvaro Uribe, a right-wing former president who was convicted of witness-tampering and bribery (the verdict was subsequently overturned). He has been a key adviser to President Gustavo Petro and a central figure in the government's "total peace" policy of negotiating with armed groups.
Mr Cepeda is a victim of Colombia's violent past. His tone on peace and social justice is measured. José Mujica, a former Uruguayan president, and Pope Francis are his role models. "I never wanted to be a candidate," he told The Economist. "I've seen how presidents suffer."
On October 26th 2025 Mr Cepeda won 65% of the vote in the primaries for Mr Petro's Historic Pact coalition, beating Diana Carolina Corcho, a former health minister. Nearly 2.8m Colombians voted; the turnout was relatively high for a primary.
Whereas Mr Petro is confrontational and egotistical, Mr Cepeda is described as intellectual and sincere. He defends Mr Petro's policies, including his economic vision and his effort to negotiate with criminal groups. He says he would reach across the aisle to curb the illegal economies that fund armed groups and fight corruption "relentlessly".
No problem is so formidable that you can't just walk away from it.