Right-wing De la Espriella leads Colombian runoff by razor-thin margin, Cepeda vows to challenge results

Preliminary results

Colombia's electoral authority released a quick count on Sunday evening showing right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella with 49.7 percent of the vote, against 48.7 percent for Iván Cepeda. The difference amounts to about 246,000 to 250,000 ballots, according to Dutch media reports. Turnout exceeded 26 million voters in the nation of 54 million. De la Espriella, a 47-year-old former lawyer and businessman nicknamed 'El Tigre', celebrated on social media.

“Thank you Colombia.”

The first round on 31 May saw De la Espriella emerge as the surprise front-runner, but no candidate secured an outright majority, forcing Sunday's runoff. Official certification by the national electoral council is expected in the coming days.

Abelardo de la Espriella49.7%

Iván Cepeda48.7%

Abelardo de la Espriella

49.7 %

Iván Cepeda

48.7 %

Data from the article text

Campaign promises

De la Espriella campaigned on a hardline security platform, vowing to end peace talks with armed rebel groups and launch a US- and Israel-backed campaign of airstrikes against drug cartels and guerrillas. He pledged to build ten mega-prisons, following the model of Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele, and to close Colombia's doors to migrants.

“I will order the air force to shoot down every drug flight and sink every drug boat.”

Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator, promised to continue the dialogue-based approach of outgoing leftist president Gustavo Petro and to suspend new oil projects. The election was deeply polarised, with De la Espriella drawing support from urban centres and the wealthier Andean highlands, while Cepeda performed better in rural, coastal and Amazonian regions.

International reactions

US president Donald Trump had endorsed De la Espriella in recent weeks, and more Colombians living in the United States turned out for the runoff than for the first round. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated De la Espriella on X.

“The Trump administration looks forward to working closely with your government to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the US, and strengthen our economic ties.”

Argentine president Javier Milei also sent congratulations. The left half of Colombia's electorate has denounced what it calls foreign interference in the vote.

What's next

Cepeda has said he will await the slower, detailed count and will challenge the results from 33,000 polling stations. The electoral council is expected to ratify the outcome within days. If De la Espriella's lead holds, Colombia will undergo a sharp rightward turn after four years of Petro's left-wing government, with immediate implications for regional diplomacy, migration policy and the country's internal conflict.