Gustavo Petro
34th President of Colombia since 2022
Photo: Presidencia de Colombia, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 21h ago
Colombia's De la Espriella signs protest decree letting police act without waiting for dialogue
President Abelardo de la Espriella signed Decree 1525 of 2026 on Tuesday, 13 October, changing how security forces respond to demonstrations. The government said it would apply the rules at anti-government marches called for Wednesday, 14 October.
- yesterday
Colombia opens embassy in Jerusalem, drawing Saudi and Palestinian condemnation
Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, becoming the tenth embassy in the city. Israel welcomed the move, while Saudi Arabia called it a violation of international law.
- Sep 24
Colombia deploys 1,100 troops to Santa Marta after armed strike closes city
President Abelardo De La Espriella deployed 1,100 soldiers and police officers to Santa Marta after the Sierra Nevada armed group enforced a 48-hour commercial shutdown following the killing of its second-in-command.
- Aug 1
Truck bomb wounds 11 in Colombia's Cucutá six days before far-right president-elect takes office
A truck loaded with explosives detonated outside a police station in the Colombian border city of Cucutá on Saturday, wounding at least 11 people just six days before the inauguration of far-right president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella.
- Jul 27
Colombia’s president-elect to close 14 embassies, break ties with Cuba and Nicaragua in first diplomatic overhaul
Colombian president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced the closure of 14 embassies and 15 consulates worldwide and the break of diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua. The measures will take effect after his 7 August inauguration, as part of a broader “optimization” of the country’s diplomatic network.
- Jun 21
Colombia swings right as pro-Trump outsider Abelardo de la Espriella wins presidency by one percentage point
Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old businessman and self-styled ‘outsider’, defeated leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in the 21 June runoff, pulling the nation sharply rightward after four years of left-wing rule.
- Jun 21
Right-wing hardliner Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombian presidency, preliminary results show
Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-backed businessman who calls himself 'The Tiger', has won Colombia's presidential runoff with a narrow margin over leftist senator Iván Cepeda, according to preliminary results from Sunday's vote.
- Jun 21
Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombia presidency by a fraction of a point as rival vows to challenge ballots and protests erupt
Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right lawyer and Trump admirer, defeated leftist Iván Cepeda by just 0.96 percentage points in Colombia’s tightest runoff ever, while the challenger prepared to contest 33,000 polling stations and protesters burned US flags in Bogotá and Cali.
- Jun 21
De la Espriella's Bukele model vs Cepeda's peace legacy as Colombia votes for president
Far-right Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist Iván Cepeda face off in a contest shaped by security fears, economic stagnation and US interference.
- Jun 19
Colombia peace deal: 99 guerrillas lay down arms three days ahead of presidential runoff
Three days before a presidential runoff, 99 members of the CNEB guerrilla group symbolically handed over their weapons in Putumayo in the most significant success yet of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” policy.
- Jun 16
Colombia braces for polarized presidential runoff with De la Espriella holding 7.7-point lead
Abelardo de la Espriella holds a 7.7-point advantage over Iván Cepeda ahead of Sunday's presidential runoff, which follows a first round marked by record turnout and a bitter, judicialized campaign.
- Jun 14
De la Espriella leads Cepeda by 7 points in final polls before Colombia's runoff, Trump declares support
Two surveys released on June 13 give conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella a clear advantage over leftist Iván Cepeda ahead of Colombia's presidential runoff on June 21. The race has been shaped by polarisation, legal challenges and an endorsement from Donald Trump.
- Jun 10
Colombia's Petro calls suspension bid 'extortion' as party ally seeks to bar him from office until runoff
A legislator from Gustavo Petro's own ruling coalition has proposed suspending the Colombian president until the June 21 presidential runoff, citing his alleged interference in the campaign. Petro, speaking from New York, called the move 'extortion' and said it violated Colombian law.
- Jun 1
Colombia's far-right outsider De la Espriella stuns with first-round win, triggering fraud claims and a polarized runoff
Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right political newcomer, won Colombia's presidential first round with 43.7% of the vote, setting up a tense June 21 runoff against leftist Iván Cepeda amid unsubstantiated fraud allegations from President Gustavo Petro.
- Jun 1
Colombia's Presidential Runoff Set for June 21 as Far-Right De la Espriella Stuns Leftist Cepeda in Polarized First Round
Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right outsider, won Colombia's first-round presidential vote with a historic 43.7%, setting up a deeply polarized June 21 runoff against leftist Iván Cepeda, who trailed at 40.9%.
- Jun 1
Colombia presidential election heads to runoff as outsider de la Espriella edges leftist Cepeda
Right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist senator Iván Cepeda will face off in a June 21 runoff after neither secured a majority in Colombia's presidential election on Sunday.
- May 31
Colombia presidential election heads to runoff between hard-right 'Tiger' de la Espriella and leftist Cepeda
Hard-right populist Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist senator Ivan Cepeda will face off in Colombia's June 21 presidential runoff after a polarizing first round that saw de la Espriella outperform expectations.
- May 31
Colombia presidential election heads to runoff as far-right De la Espriella stuns leftist Cepeda in first round
Far-right millionaire lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round of Colombia's presidential election, edging out leftist senator Iván Cepeda and setting up a high-stakes runoff on June 21 that will decide the successor to President Gustavo Petro.
- May 31
Colombia Votes in Polarized Presidential Election: Leftist Cepeda Leads, Runoff Expected
Colombians head to the polls Sunday in a deeply polarized presidential election, with leftist Iván Cepeda holding a clear polling lead but falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff, making a June 21 second round between the top two finishers almost certain.
- May 28
Dozens killed as rival FARC dissident factions clash in Colombia's Guaviare jungle days before presidential election
At least 52 guerrilla fighters were killed in fierce clashes between rival FARC dissident groups battling for control of cocaine trafficking routes in southeastern Colombia, just three days before the country's presidential election.
