A US-backed conservative candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella, has won Colombia’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin, defeating left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda in a contest that has sharply divided the country.
With nearly all polling stations reporting, de la Espriella secured 49.66 percent of the vote, compared to Cepeda’s 48.70 percent, according to preliminary results.
The victory marks a political shift to the right in Colombia and is expected to strengthen ties with Washington, as well as signal a tougher security stance against armed groups and drug cartels.
‘New era’ promised
Speaking to supporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla, de la Espriella declared the start of a “new era,” pledging to take a hard line against violence, corruption, and drug trafficking.
“For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up,” he said while addressing supporters behind bulletproof glass.
The 47-year-old lawyer, who has never previously held public office, has campaigned on a strong security platform, including promises to dismantle guerrilla-linked criminal networks and intensify state-led military operations.
His victory has been welcomed by US President Donald Trump and other right-wing leaders across the Americas, who praised his campaign and security agenda.
Tensions flare after vote
The election period was marked by unrest and sporadic violence. Shortly after results began to emerge, protests broke out in the city of Cali, where demonstrators burned flags and clashed with police, who responded with tear gas.
At the same time, supporters of de la Espriella celebrated in several cities, waving national flags and wearing yellow football jerseys adopted as part of his campaign branding.
Some supporters expressed optimism that his presidency would bring improved security, economic opportunity, and stronger governance.
Opposition response
Cepeda, 63, did not immediately concede defeat, saying he would wait for full verification of the vote count before accepting the outcome.
“Once the count has been completed and its final result is known, we will acknowledge the official result,” he said.
While the margin is small, electoral authorities indicated that the gap would be difficult to overturn based on remaining uncounted ballots.
Security and peace concerns
De la Espriella’s win is expected to reshape Colombia’s approach to internal security and its fragile peace process with armed groups.
He has previously proposed ending ongoing negotiations with dissident factions and launching a 90-day security crackdown backed by international support.
Colombia has experienced relative stability since the 2016 peace accord with the FARC rebels, but armed groups and drug cartels continue to operate in several regions, contributing to ongoing violence and high levels of inequality.
In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the outcome, saying the United States looked forward to working closely with the incoming administration.
Divided reactions
While supporters celebrated what they called a victory for security and order, critics warned of possible authoritarian tendencies and the risk of renewed conflict.
De la Espriella, however, pledged to govern inclusively, saying he would respect all political groups and “govern for all Colombians.”
As the final results await official confirmation, Colombia faces a pivotal political transition that could reshape its domestic security policies and international relations.
