Nationalist lawyer and businessman Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.7 percent of the vote. The far-right outsider and millionaire, who has never held public office, secured a razor-thin victory over left-wing rival Ivan Cepeda by a one percent lead.
Supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, de la Espriella's win marks a sharp political turn for Colombia as he succeeds the country's first leftist president, Gustavo Petro. This result accelerates a rightward shift rippling across Latin America. The new president is expected to implement a hardline security agenda and market-friendly policies, promising to crack down on crime and build a stronger economy.
The victory is expected to reverse the agenda of the Petro administration, including a controversial plan to hold parallel peace negotiations with illegal armed groups. The results have deeply polarized the nation, sparking both celebrations and violent protests across the country.
Tension remains high as the results are contested. Ivan Cepeda told supporters he would challenge results from more than 30,000 voting stations, while outgoing President Gustavo Petro stated that neither candidate can be declared president.