BOGOTÁ—He calls himself “the tiger,” a nickname that, according to him, signifies a big heart, strength, endurance, and character. Another recurring theme in his campaign is la patria: in speeches, interviews, and social media posts, the 47-year-old criminal lawyer talks constantly about the homeland. On these occasions, or when greeting potential voters, he salutes and then yells, “Stand firm for the Nation!” These are parts of the public image that Colombian presidential frontrunner Aberlardo De La Espriella is cultivating, aiming to win the nation’s first-round election on May 31.
It seems that this strategy—which includes sending a “defender of the homeland” kit to anyone who asks for it on his website—is working for De La Espriella. According to a poll published by Colombia’s leading political magazine Semana on February 7, his name led voters’ preferences with 32%, followed by Senator Iván Cepeda of the ruling Pacto Histórico, the coalition that brought current President Gustavo Petro to power.
“Abelardo is clearly the main outsider in this race, the one who claims he differs from politics as usual,” Miguel Silva, a well-known local political strategist who has worked throughout Latin America, told AQ. “He has been very effective in building a credible campaign with a very smart use of modern techniques.”
