Colombian Presidential Election: Abelardo de la Espriela Advances to Runoff
In a notable turn of events, outsider conservative Abelardo de la Espriela emerged as the leading candidate in Colombia’s presidential election held on Sunday. He will face off against far-left Senator Iván Cepeda in a runoff scheduled for June 21.
The 47-year-old de la Espriela, a lawyer and businessman who has expressed support for Trump, received over 10.36 million votes, which translates to about 43.74% of the total. Senator Cepeda, representing the ruling Historical Pact Coalition, garnered around 9.68 million votes, or 40.90%. It’s worth noting that neither candidate achieved the required 50% majority in the first round, prompting the upcoming runoff. Voter participation was approximately 57.88%, with more than 23.97 million Colombians casting their ballots.
After the votes were counted, de la Espriela celebrated with his family, wearing jerseys from the 2026 Colombian national soccer team. In a message of gratitude, he thanked his supporters and invited them to a victory rally. “We are going to a run-off election to overthrow tyranny and absolutism. In 21 days, we will forever change the course of Colombia’s history,” he proclaimed in a video.
During a rally later, de la Espriela voiced strong criticism of President Petro and Cepeda, labeling them as “despicable criminals.” He further described Cepeda as linked to the notorious FARC terrorist group, which has raised polls and public interest. He asserted, “Mr. Petro and Mr. Cepeda are a couple of fraudsters, and we are going to put them out of business forever.”
Amidst rising tensions, Petro, responding via social media, accused the electoral system of bias, claiming he would not acknowledge the results announced. De la Espriela took this opportunity to urge the international community, particularly the United States, to closely observe the upcoming runoff to safeguard democracy in Colombia. He warned against attempts to undermine the election process: “We will defend our homeland with reason or force,” he stated.
De la Espriela, who has a track record of supporting figures like Trump and other conservative leaders in the region, laid out ambitious proposals for Colombia, which include fiscal austerity and a reduction of state influence. He also emphasized increasing security measures to combat crime and narcotics in the country.
Meanwhile, former President Uribe endorsed de la Espriela, urging a collective effort to reject leftist governance, especially with Cepeda in close competition. He cautioned that the nation must avoid a turn towards a regime similar to Venezuela’s under Chavismo.
Regional leaders, including President Milei of Argentina, congratulated de la Espriela on his achievement. Milei emphasized the importance of this election’s results for Colombia’s future in terms of freedom and progress, highlighting widespread aspirations for change among the Colombian populace.
