Abelardo de la Espriella, a lawyer‑businessman who has never held elected office, barely beat Iván Cepeda in Colombia’s presidential runoff. Preliminary figures show 49.7% of the over 99% of votes counted go to the right‑wing candidate, giving him an almost 1% margin.
De la Espriella pledged to end negotiations with illegal armed groups, to launch a military crackdown on drug trafficking and organised crime, and to restore “law and order” in a country where internal conflict has intensified in recent years.
His campaign drew on the support of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he would bring “total support” from the United States. After the result, Trump celebrated on Truth Social, calling the win “He Won, BIG!”
Victory celebrations in Barranquilla saw supporters donning yellow football jerseys, waving Colombian flags, and chanting slogans reminiscent of Trump’s “Make America Great Again.” In contrast, protesters in Cali clashed with police, burning U.S. flags and demanding a system audit after the announcement.
President Gustavo Petro, a veteran key to Colombia’s peace process, has not conceded and has called for verification of voting software and alleged “compromised” polling stations. He said the pre‑count result was not official and urged a transparent audit.
Colembian politics is shifting to the right, mirroring regional trends sparked by security anxieties. De la Espriella has been praised by other Latin American right‑wing leaders, including president Javier Milei and president José Antonio Kast, for promising economic freedom and robust security measures.
