Election Results and Reactions
The right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has narrowly won Colombia's presidential election according to the initial vote count, signaling a significant shift in the government's approach to the country's internal armed conflict and violence.
Espriella, endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has promised a military crackdown targeting illegal armed groups, drug trafficking, and crime.
He defeated the left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, a close ally of the current president, Gustavo Petro.
"Today begins a new stage for our country, a stage built on the free and democratic will of millions of citizens who chose to believe in a great, safe, prosperous Colombia full of opportunities."
With over 99% of votes counted, De la Espriella secured nearly 49.7% of the vote, while Cepeda received 48.7%.
Cepeda has not conceded, stating that the preliminary count is "not yet official or binding." He added,
"Once the official canvass takes place and its final result is produced, and the corresponding verifications have been carried out, we will recognize the official result that emerges from that structure."
Espriella, who hails from Colombia's Caribbean coastal region, enjoyed substantial regional support.
In Barranquilla, a coastal city, large crowds of supporters gathered to celebrate his apparent victory. They wore Colombia's yellow football jerseys and waved Colombian flags, singing and dancing to music from a stage illuminated with images of Espriella's face. Chants included "stand firm for the homeland" and "Petro out!" culminating in a fireworks display.
Some attendees wore hats reminiscent of Donald Trump supporters, bearing the slogan "Make Colombia Great Again!"
Donald Trump responded to the election outcome on Truth Social, writing,
"He Won, BIG!"
Supporters expressed their hopes for change. One supporter, Patricia, said,
"We are tired of the killings in this country. And tired of the bureaucracy of this government. We have a president from the coast!"
Another supporter stated,
"We are proud of The Tiger. We hope he will change the country, to a new one where we can have jobs, and more security above everything."
The stark differences between the candidates have raised concerns about potential unrest following the election, particularly if some critics refuse to accept the results.
Cepeda may challenge the outcome. He posted on X that
"neither can be proclaimed president"after a "pre-count result" and called for an audit of voting software, alleging without evidence that some polling stations were "compromised."
Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?
Abelardo de la Espriella is a lawyer and businessman with no prior political experience who has adopted the nickname "El Tigre" (The Tiger).
As a lawyer, his clients have included Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuela's ousted president Nicolás Maduro who faces U.S. charges of money laundering, and David Murcia Guzman, one of Colombia's most notorious fraudsters. Espriella has stated that his representation was part of his role as a defense lawyer.
He has been compared to El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele due to similarities in security policies and even his beard style.
At rallies and on social media, Espriella and his supporters often wear the Colombian national football jersey, which critics accuse him of politicizing, and perform military-style salutes. He frequently addresses crowds from behind bulletproof glass screens.
Military Crackdown
Colombia's internal armed conflict has persisted for decades but has intensified in recent years. The membership of armed guerrilla groups and cartels, including FARC dissidents, the ELN, and the Clan del Golfo, has doubled over the past five years.
Violence has escalated as these groups compete over lucrative cocaine trafficking routes and illegal mining sites. Last year, a violent offensive along the Colombia-Venezuela border displaced tens of thousands of people. Cocaine production in Colombia, the world's largest producer, reached a record high.
Critics of President Petro argue that his "total peace" strategy, which prioritizes negotiation with armed groups, has failed, allowing these groups to exploit ceasefires to expand their influence and territories.
Espriella has pledged to end negotiations with illegal armed groups and instead implement a tougher military crackdown to restore order, including enhanced cooperation with the United States.
He has also promised to construct mega-prisons in Colombia's jungle, reduce the size of the state, and reform the health system.
Trump Endorsement
Espriella became a U.S. citizen in 2023 after living and working in Miami for many years.
Donald Trump endorsed Espriella, stating he would "stop illegal immigration, crack down on crime and drugs, and restore LAW AND ORDER!"
Before the election, Trump added that Espriella would have the "total support and strength of the United States behind him."
Colombia has historically been one of the United States' closest allies in the region, but relations have been strained recently due to contentious exchanges between Trump and President Petro over U.S. migration policies, tariffs, and military intervention in Latin America.
Espriella's election is part of a broader regional shift, as several Latin American countries have moved to the right in recent elections, driven largely by security concerns.
Espriella received praise from other right-wing leaders in the region. Argentina's president Javier Milei said Colombians had chosen the path of
"economic freedom, prosperity, unwavering security, and telling organised transnational crime and drug trafficking ENOUGH ALREADY."
Chile's president José Antonio Kast commented,
"a new stage of freedom begins for Colombia that will allow them to recover security and prosperity."
