Trump-backed De la Espriella wins Colombia's presidential runoff: Preliminary results
The razor-thin margin leaves the result uncertified as Cepeda plans to challenge about 33,000 ballot boxes.
- On Sunday, hardline populist Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia's presidential election based on a preliminary 'quick count,' securing 49.7% of the vote against left-wing opponent Cepeda's 48.7%.
- Earlier this month, President Trump endorsed de la Espriella, aligning with United States strategy to cultivate right-wing coalitions across Latin America amid regional armed conflict intensifying in recent years.
- Espriella promised a sweeping military offensive on his first day, vowing to 'bomb all of the camps holding narco-terrorists' and build ten 'mega prisons' to intensify attacks on drug-smuggling operations.
- Outgoing President Gustavo Petro alleged irregularities in the preliminary count, declaring neither candidate could 'be proclaimed' until ratification, while ally Cepeda challenged results from around 33,000 ballot boxes.
- This victory reflects a rightward shift in Latin America, where far-right and center-right governments hold power in Argentina and Chile. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted that 'Colombia's best days are ahead.
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191 Articles
Colombia is facing a change of course: the candidate supported by Trump is ahead. The government camp wants to have the result checked.
Colombian protests vow 'resistance' to right-wing rule
Thousands of leftist Colombians spilt onto the streets of Cali and Bogota on Sunday to protest hard-right president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's narrow election win.Indigenous music provided a soundtrack to the initially peaceful march through Cali's Puerto Resistencia neighbourhood.But as Trump-backed De la Espriella made a triumphant speech in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla, protestors...
The anti-system lawyer supported by the United States, Abelardo de la Espriella, promised Sunday a "new era" after winning the presidential election in Colombia, making a country hit by the violence of armed groups turn very right. He wants to reduce the state apparatus by 40%.
Trump-backed de la Espriella wins razor-tight Colombian presidential election
Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right lawyer and businessman who earned US President Donald Trump's support, on Sunday won Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.7 percent of the vote, beating his left-wing rival Ivan Cepeda with a one percent lead. Cepeda told supporters he would challenge results from more than 30,000 voting stations.
The conservative businessman, novice in politics, slightly beat left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda in the second round. Preliminary results give Abelardo de la Espriella winning with 49.7% of the vote, compared with 48.7% for the philosopher and human rights defender.
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