Colombia ELN Election Ceasefire Day 1: Armed Groups Stand Down as Millions Prepare to Vote; Petro's Last Full Day in Office

May 30, 2026 — The ELN's 4-day election ceasefire officially took effect at midnight on May 30, covering the May 31 first-round Colombian presidential election and the immediate post-voting period through midnight June 2. The ELN ordered all fronts to halt offensive operations, reiterating their stated respect for the free right to vote. The FARC dissident Estado Mayor Central (EMC/Mordisco faction) and the Clan del Golfo (AGC) also honored their pledges of non-interference in the electoral process. Security forces and Colombia's National Electoral Authority (CNE) reported a calm pre-election environment with no significant election-related violence through May 30. The ceasefire represents a tactical posture, not a resumption of formal peace talks — the ELN's negotiations with the Petro government collapsed in January 2025 following the Catatumbo massacre, and no formal negotiation framework is currently in place. President Gustavo Petro, whose 'Total Peace' initiative effectively collapsed following the ELN and EMC breakdowns, spends his final full day as president. The election is widely assessed as the most consequential peace referendum Colombia has held since the 2016 FARC accord plebiscite: Cepeda would attempt to restart ELN talks and continue JEP; De la Espriella has pledged to immediately terminate all negotiations with armed groups. Final polling (Invamer May 2026) showed Cepeda at approximately 44.6%, De la Espriella at 31.6%, Valencia at 14% — a virtual runoff-guarantee with June 21 as the decisive date.