The sudden emergence of Abelardo de la Espriella as Colombia's next leader has left many in shock. A right-wing outsider endorsed by Donald Trump, he appears to have narrowly won the presidency with a 1% margin over his left-wing opponent Iván Cepeda. De la Espriella's victory is expected to bring significant changes to Colombia's approach to its decades-long internal conflict and violent crime, with a strong military crackdown on illicit groups and trafficking promised.
The preliminary results show de la Espriella securing nearly 49.7% of the vote in the run-off election, with over 99% of ballots counted. His opponent, Iván Cepeda, garnered approximately 48.7%. While Mr Cepeda has not conceded, he emphasised that the initial count is "not yet official or binding", and will only recognise the final result after all necessary verifications have been completed.
De la Espriella's support base was substantial in his home region of Colombia's Caribbean coast. Following the initial announcement, he addressed a gathering of jubilant supporters in Barranquilla, a coastal city, where he declared "Tonight marks the beginning of a new story for the nation". He also vowed to govern for all Colombians, and pledged loyalty to the 1991 constitution.
His supporters celebrated with music, dancing, and chants such as "stand firm for the homeland", while some wore hats emblazoned with "Make Colombia Great Again!". Mr Trump himself reacted on Truth Social, stating "He Won, BIG!" The sentiment among de la Espriella's supporters reflected a desire for change, with one expressing frustration over "killings in this country" and governmental bureaucracy, and another hoping for "jobs, and more security above everything".
Conversely, Cepeda's supporters expressed unease over the narrow margin. A student and activist, Catalina La Grande, highlighted the "palpable sense of unease" and concern that such a narrow victory reflected a deeply divided nation. While initial reactions have been largely peaceful, reports emerged late on Sunday of clashes between protesters and police in Cali, involving the burning of US flags and police using tear gas against crowds angered by de la Espriella's win.
President Petro has taken to social media, suggesting that "neither can be proclaimed president" based on a "pre-count result", and called for an audit of the voting software. The situation remains tense in Colombia as both sides await the official canvass and final verification of results.