"Si gana la izquierda en Colombia, esa decisión de aumentar el salario mínimo en más del 20 por ciento será histórica", dice el vicepresidente de AS/COA.

"Colombia tiene un récord excelente de organizar elecciones libres aun bajo condiciones subóptimas", dice el vicepresidente de AS/COA.

Follow the run-up to the June 21 runoff between far-right Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist Iván Cepeda.

Lula is seeking a fourth term as Flávio Bolsonaro attempts to avenge his ex-president father. The first round is October 4.

Current unrest reflects fractured political alliances and broader social changes, with existential implications for President Rodrigo Paz.

“De la Espriella has something that Cepeda also has ... popular fervor,” said the Bogotá-based analyst ahead of the May 31 presidential vote.

On her fourth try, conservative Keiko Fujimori faces off against leftist Roberto Sánchez after a first-round vote marred by mishaps.