Colombians Vote to Elect New Congress and Choose Presidential Candidates

On March 8, Colombians voted to elect a new Congress and select presidential candidates from three major coalitions ahead of the May presidential election. Over 3,000 candidates competed for 285 legislative seats amid concerns about political violence, especially in rural areas controlled by armed groups. President Gustavo Petro, barred from immediate reelection, questioned election software reliability based on 2022 results. The European Union deployed observers to monitor the process. The right-wing opposition, led by former President Álvaro Uribe, aims to regain legislative influence.