Trump-backed De La Espriella Holds Razor-thin Lead In Colombia’s Election As Rival Challenges Vote

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella had a razor-thin lead in the election Colombian presidential election Almost all votes were counted in the second round of voting on Sunday renewed civil conflict.

A victory for de la Espriella would effectively be an indictment of the policies of the outgoing countries. President Gustavo Petrohis protégé had promised to continue his agenda if he defeated his rival.

De la Espriella, a business owner and lawyer who won the support of U.S. President Donald Trump despite never running for office, led progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda to 49.7% of the vote, with complete results of 99.9% announced by election authorities. Petro’s ally Cepeda received 48.7% support. Election officials have not officially announced the winner.

Cepeda said his team would challenge the results from more than 30,000 voting stations; Petro also vowed to appeal the result.

No recount in Colombian history has overturned the results of a presidential election.

People on the streets of Bogota chanted “Petro out! Petro out!” and car horns honked.

Both candidates offered voters vastly different strategies to prevent the South American country from experiencing the unremitting brutal violence of car bombings, kidnappings, disappearances and forced displacements that Colombians have experienced in previous decades.

47-year-old De la Espriella promised heavy approach It is aimed at combating crime, including drug trafficking. He also said he plans to end Petro’s attempts to hold parallel peace talks with multiple armed groups (an effort that has largely failed) and to build megaprisons in emulation of the aggressive policies of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. These tactics reduced murder rates in the Central American country but also increased accusations of human rights abuses.

De la Espriella, nicknamed “Tiger”, has both Colombian and US citizenship. He is a Trump supporter and a member of the Republican Party.

“We have had a problem of armed conflict and drug trafficking for too long, and it has polarized the country to a great extent,” said Víctor Duque, a 72-year-old retired economist, wearing a national football team jersey at a voting center in the capital Bogota. “I believe this is one of the most important elections in Colombia this century.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina and Ecuador President Daniel Noboa were among the first political leaders to congratulate de la Espriella.

“The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your new administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties,” Rubio said in a statement to X. “Colombia’s best days are ahead.”

According to official results, Cepeda received 41 percent of the votes in the first round, while de la Espriella received 44 percent of the votes. Petro cast doubt on the results without evidence after Cepeda, who had been consistently ahead in the polls ahead of the May elections, failed to win outright and even finished behind de la Espriella.

Yolanda Hernández, 49, voted early Sunday before starting to sell black ink pens outside a voting center in Bogota. He said customers buy the pens because ink cannot be erased from paper ballots, reducing the possibility of fraud.

Hernández, who recycles garbage for a living, voted for Petro in 2022, but this time he voted for de la Espriella. While acknowledging that Petro has been unable to fulfill his promises to help the poor due to congressional gridlock, he said Colombia cannot afford another four years for the country in line with his vision.

“We want change in Colombia because it’s always the same violence, it’s always the same thing,” Hernández said. “(Petro) said he would lower the cost of services, lower the price of food, everything is more expensive.”

The election will be held in 10 years Colombia The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a historic peace agreement with its guerrillas, giving the country hope of breaking the vicious cycle. conflict between rebel groups and government.

But violence has flared up again, especially as most rebel groups abandoned the ideologically driven struggle for the financial interests of drug trafficking.

Authorities recorded 14,780 murders last year; This number was the highest since at least 2015 and was driven by clashes between illegal armed groups. Among those killed were conservative presidential candidate Miguel Uribe. Cases of extortion also increased, reaching 13,417 cases in 2025; This number is more than double the figure recorded in 2015.

De la Espriella, a political newcomer nicknamed “The Tiger,” has vowed to violently pursue criminals and build 10 mega prisons, emulating El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s policies that have reduced murder rates but fueled accusations of human rights abuses.

Cepeda said Petro will continue his duty Alarming signature plan to achieve “total peace” by making deals with guerrillas and criminal gangs. The heavily criticized strategy, which Petro launched in 2022, runs until Thursday to see the first armed group of about 100 members lay down their weapons and begin a resettlement process that will see them reintegrated into civilian life. Illegal groups in Colombia have more than 27,000 members.