Trump‑backed outsider Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly wins Colombia presidency

Tue Jun 23 2026 16:03:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, wins the Colombian presidential election in a razor‑thin runoff and promises a military crackdown on drugs and crime.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a political newcomer and former lawyer, claimed a narrow victory in Colombia’s presidential runoff, overtaking left‑wing rival Iván Cepeda. With 99 % of ballots counted, de la Espriella secured 49.7 % of the vote, while Cepeda gathered 48.7 %. The win has sparked celebrations in Barranquilla and protests in downtown Cali, raising fears of heightened tension as the country’s violent history looms. De la Espriella pledged a hard‑line approach against illegal armed groups, drug trafficking and corruption, echoing the hard‑line rhetoric of several Latin American right‑wing leaders and visa‑to‑the‑US support from former President Trump. The result represents a decisive shift toward a security‑focused agenda for the nation, now poised for a new era of law and order that critics say could strain Colombia’s fragile peace process.

Trump‑backed outsider Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombia’s presidential runoff

With only 99 % of ballots counted, United‑States‑backed candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has swiped victory from the left‑wing rival Iván Cepeda, securing 49.7 % of the vote to Cepeda’s 48.7 %. The razor‑thin margin ended a decades‑long “total peace” experiment that critics say has allowed armed groups to grow.

The initial count triggered immediate celebrations in the eastern coast city of Barranquilla, where thousands of de la Espriella supporters draped yellow football jerseys and waved Colombian flags. The crowd held signs chanting “Make Colombia Great Again” and “Petro out!” as fireworks lit the sky.

Cepeda, a loyalist of President Gustavo Petro, has refused to concede, arguing that the preliminary count is “not yet official or binding”. He insists that the official canvass will still be pending and calls for a full audit of the voting software, citing alleged compromises at some polling stations.

De la Espriella, nicknamed “El Tigre,” vowed to “govern for all Colombians,” promising a tough military crackdown on the FARC dissidents, the ELN, and the Clan del Golfo. He also pledged to build mega‑prisons in the jungle, adopt a smaller state, and reform health services.

The new victor’s success reflects a broader right‑wing trend across Latin America, with leaders such as Argentina’s Javier Milei and Chile’s José Antonio Kast lauding the renewed focus on security and prosperity.

Security concerns, however, have translated into unrest. In Cali, demonstrators burned U.S. flags and tear gas was deployed by police. Across the country, the polarized win fuels fears that it may amplify the existing divide over Colombia’s long‑standing internal armed conflict.

De la Espriella’s victory marks a dramatic shift in Colombia’s trajectory, as the nation now faces a new administration that promises to prioritize law and order over negotiated peace.