With the 2026 Colombian presidential elections drawing ever closer, a different approach was undertaken: to analyze the country's current situation with the help of artificial intelligence to answer a key question many are asking today:
What type of candidate would be best suited for the country at this time?
This is not about fanaticism or political propaganda, but an analysis based on the real context that Colombia is experiencing.
The current situation in the country
Colombia enters 2026 at a complex and decisive juncture. Among the main factors shaping the national landscape are:
A high degree of political polarization , which has hindered dialogue and consensus.
Persistent security problems , with the presence of armed groups and illegal economies in several regions.
A fragile economy , with low growth, tax pressure and distrust from some productive sectors.
Citizen fatigue , both towards the ruling left and the traditional right.
Institutions that, although strained, continue to function as democratic counterweights .
This context suggests that the country is not in a moment of extreme experiments, but of adjustments and corrections.
Top candidates with potential (2026)
1. Iván Cepeda (Historical Pact – left)
Senator and candidate of the ruling left-wing coalition, which brought Gustavo Petro to the presidency.
He has led the most recent polls by a significant margin.
His campaign has generated intense reactions both in support and rejection, especially from business and right-wing sectors.
Strengths: solid progressive support base, legislative experience, and national recognition.
Challenges: high political polarization and criticism from opponents about his ideological position.
2. Abelardo de la Espriella (Right/outsider)
Lawyer and independent candidate close to the conservative and right-wing sector.
In polls he appears as the second with the highest voting intention (from the right spectrum).
Strengths: an “anti-politics” figure who has captured conservative support and sectors disillusioned with traditional parties.
Challenges: it still polarizes and has a smaller institutional party base.
3. Sergio Fajardo (Center/Moderate)
Former mayor of Medellín and former governor of Antioquia, representative of a more centrist and technocratic space.
In several polls he ranks behind Cepeda and De la Espriella, but he usually positions himself well as a moderate alternative.
Strengths: experience in local government, reputation as a moderate.
Challenges: less electoral support than the two left-wing and right-wing leaders.
Other names mentioned
In addition to the above, there are other candidates or pre-candidates who are receiving public attention or growing in social media presence, although with lower levels of current voting intention:
Vicky Dávila (conservative, media figure).
Miguel Uribe Londoño and Claudia López (figures with a presence in follower analysis and recognition, although less overall intention).
Several pre-candidates from traditional parties (Democratic Center, Liberal, etc.) are in internal competition.
Recent surveys and trends
Current trend (according to recent surveys up to December 12, 2025):
Iván Cepeda leads the voting intention by a clear margin.
Abelardo de la Espriella appears as the main alternative from the right.
Sergio Fajardo is listed as a moderate option in third place.
Other candidates are more scattered in terms of voting intention.
The data suggests that no candidate achieves an absolute majority in the first round , making a second round between the two most voted likely.
What kind of president does Colombia need today?
Beyond names or ideologies, the analysis suggests that Colombia needs a very specific type of leadership. A president who:
Have real capacity for governance and dialogue with Congress, the regions, the private sector and social movements.
Be pragmatic , capable of making evidence-based decisions and correcting mistakes when necessary.
Prioritize security and the rule of law , without relativizing the authority of the State.
Convey economic confidence , respecting institutional frameworks and macroeconomic stability.
Help lower the political temperature , instead of deepening the confrontation.
Why not the extremes?
The analysis also shows that ideological extremes present risks in the current context:
A very marked shift to the left could deepen economic distrust and institutional erosion.
A shift towards a hard right could increase social confrontation and political polarization.
Therefore, the current situation in Colombia seems to favor a center or center-pragmatic leadership , with administrative experience and a conciliatory tone.
So, who best fits this profile?
Based on that analysis—and not from a militant perspective—the name that best suits the current needs of the country is:
Sergio Fajardo
His profile is associated with a moderate, technical and dialogic vision, more focused on stabilizing, ordering and rebuilding trust than on deepening ideological divisions.
This does not mean that it is a perfect option or that it is exempt from criticism, but rather that its style and trajectory fit better with the moment that Colombia is going through .
Colombia does not seem to need a "savior" today, nor an ideological revolution, nor a political revenge.
What the country needs is stability, governance, and confidence .
The 2026 elections will be a key decision in defining whether the country remains trapped in polarization or opts for a more moderate and pragmatic path.
The vote, as always, will belong to the citizens. This analysis simply aims to offer a different perspective to consider before making a decision.