- Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia's presidential runoff, receiving 49.7% of the vote, according to the electoral authority.
- His main opponent, Iván Cepeda, a leftist senator, trailed closely with 48.7% in one of the most polarized elections in Colombia's history.
- Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, has pledged a military crackdown on illegal armed groups and drug trafficking.
- Trump celebrated the victory, stating on Truth Social, "He Won, BIG!"
- In a live address, De la Espriella claimed his victory would "change the course of Colombia’s history forever".
- He plans to build 10 maximum-security mega-prisons and adopt an iron fist approach against criminal groups.
- Espriella has promised to scrap negotiations with illegal armed groups and instead focus on military action to restore order.
- His victory marks a dramatic shift in Colombia's approach to internal conflict and violence.
- Espriella received praise from other right-wing leaders, including Argentina's president Javier Milei, for his commitment to economic freedom and security.
Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative lawyer backed by Donald Trump, has won Colombia's presidential runoff, securing 49.7% of the vote against leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, who garnered 48.7%. This election, one of the closest in Colombia's history, signifies a major political shift.12357
De la Espriella's victory, confirmed with 99.93% of ballots counted, marks a departure from the leftist policies of former President Gustavo Petro. He has vowed to adopt an iron fist approach against criminal organizations, promising to build 10 maximum-security “mega-prisons” and to eliminate criminals “like rats and cockroaches”.
In a live address, he stated, “This victory will change the course of Colombia’s history forever.” He also mentioned a phone call with Trump, who expressed his support, stating on Truth Social, “He Won, BIG!” Espriella's plans include a military crackdown on illegal armed groups and closer collaboration with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking and violence.4
The election results have drawn praise from other right-wing leaders, including Argentina's President Javier Milei, who commended the choice of “economic freedom, prosperity, unwavering security” for Colombia. Analysts note that Espriella's approach contrasts sharply with the previous government's attempts at negotiation with armed groups, which have seen limited success.
As he prepares to take office on August 7, the new president's hardline stance raises questions about the future of Colombia's internal conflict and the effectiveness of military solutions in addressing the country's long-standing issues with violence and crime.
“Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia's presidential runoff, receiving 49.7% of the vote against Iván Cepeda's 48.7%. His victory signals a potential realignment of Colombia's policies, particularly regarding internal conflict and US relations.”
BBC
The Guardian