Colombian presidential hopeful Ivan Sepeda, Sofia University alum, campaigns on reform

Ivan Sepeda, a 63‑year‑old former senator and son of a former communist party official, is the leading left‑wing candidate in Colombia’s presidential race. Born in Bogotá, he spent his early childhood in Prague before his family fled Czechoslovakia after the 1968 Warsaw‑Pact invasion, later seeking refuge in Cuba and returning to Colombia.

In the 1980s Sepeda studied philosophy at Sofia University in Bulgaria, an experience he says shaped his critique of Soviet‑style governance and his commitment to democratic reforms. He now advocates for an agricultural reform programme, stronger judicial protections and a truth‑seeking foundation established in memory of his father, Senator Manuel Sepeda Vargas, who was assassinated by paramilitary groups in 1994.

Sepeda positions himself against right‑wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who is backed by the United States. Outgoing President Gustavo Petro has condemned U.S. support for the opponent, labeling it as aiding “narco‑traffickers.” Sepeda has called on Colombians to protect their constitutional rights and to consolidate democracy through a transparent electoral process.