Right-wing outsider Abelardo De La Espriella wins Colombian presidency in razor-thin runoff

A razor-thin runoff

Abelardo De La Espriella, a nationalist lawyer with no prior political experience, won Colombia's presidential runoff on Sunday with 49.66% of the vote, according to the national registrar's tally. His leftist opponent, Senator Ivan Cepeda, received 48.70%. The margin was just a few hundred thousand votes. De La Espriella had already led the first round in late May with 43.7%.

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.

Who is "The Tiger"?

The 47-year-old, nicknamed "El Tigre," built a persona as an anti-establishment outsider. He is a dual US-Colombian national with a business empire spanning wine, rum, clothing and real estate, though investigative outlet La Silla Vacia reported many of his firms are dissolved or in debt. De La Espriella claims to have self-financed his campaign through his "Defenders of the Homeland" movement, a claim Reuters could not independently verify. He often wears luxury watches and uses a military salute, drawing comparisons to El Salvador's Nayib Bukele.

Hardline pledges and Trump's backing

De La Espriella campaigned on a promise to end peace talks with armed groups and launch a 90-day campaign of US-backed airstrikes against dissident factions. He also plans to restart oil exploration and allow fracking to nearly double production to 1.3 million barrels per day. His victory was endorsed by former US President Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social. De La Espriella said he spoke with Trump after the result.

He Won, BIG!

Petro contests, supporters celebrate

Outgoing President Gustavo Petro, a close ally of Cepeda, suggested he may challenge the result. He posted on X that "neither can be proclaimed president" after a "pre-count result" and demanded an audit of voting software, alleging some polling stations were "compromised" without providing evidence. Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Barranquilla, thousands of De La Espriella supporters gathered in yellow national jerseys, chanting "Petro out!" and waving flags. Some wore hats reading "Make Colombia Great Again!"

We are tired of the killings in this country. And tired of the bureaucracy of this government. We have a president from the coast!

What comes next

The election marks a sharp rightward turn for Colombia, which has been grappling with violence from illegal armed groups and drug trafficking. De La Espriella's victory is likely to improve strained relations with Washington, which has provided billions in military aid. But the polarising campaign and Petro's refusal to concede have raised fears of post-election unrest.