Senator Iván Cepeda, a member of the Alternative Democratic Pole, is projected to be a key player in the launch of the 2026 presidential campaign in Colombia. His recent speech, in which he defended the peace policy, has resonated in a political landscape marked by polarization and the redefinition of alliances.
"I believe that the problems of violence cannot be attributed to the search for peace; I don't share that view. That view wants to take us back to times when governments didn't have peace policies," Cepeda said, referring to the debates on security and conflict in the country.
Cepeda has played a leading role in defending the peace agreements and in debates on human rights. His figure is observed by both sectors seeking to consolidate a political project around peace and by critics who question his stance.
The publication highlights that, beyond formal definitions, Cepeda is poised to become one of the key figures in political discussions ahead of the 2026 elections in Colombia.
In addition to his political role, Cepeda has been recognized for systematically pursuing legal channels to support his complaints and initiatives. An example of this is the judicial process in which his status as a victim was recognized against former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
On August 1, 2025, the 44th Criminal Circuit Court of Bogotá sentenced Uribe to 12 years of house arrest, plus a multimillion-dollar fine and political disqualification, for procedural fraud and bribery in criminal proceedings. Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia based her decision on evidence such as legal interceptions, audiovisual recordings, and corroborated testimony, including that of Juan Guillermo Monsalve.
The same judge determined that the case arose from a complaint filed years earlier by Uribe himself against Cepeda, which was dismissed for lack of foundation. This investigation uncovered new findings that led to the current case against the former president. In the ruling, Cepeda was confirmed as a victim.
The Bogotá Superior Court granted Uribe provisional release pending a decision on the appeal filed by his defense. The case now moves to the second instance, where it will be decided whether to uphold or modify the sentence.
After the sentence was announced, Uribe's children and leaders of the Democratic Center, including the current president of that party, Gabriel Vallejo, intensified their criticism and accusations against Cepeda. Faced with what he considered a campaign of harassment and defamation, the senator, along with attorney Miguel Ángel del Río, filed a new criminal complaint against Uribe, his children, and Vallejo for aggravated slander, aggravated insult, aggravated harassment, and threats.
In this way, Cepeda reiterated that his actions are guided by the law and respect for institutions, insisting that any dispute must be resolved through justice and not through political or media pressure.