A flamboyant US-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia’s polarising presidential run-off on Sunday, swinging the country hard right and sparking violent protests.With almost all the votes counted, Abelardo de la Espriella held 49.66 per cent of the vote versus left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda’s 48.70 per cent.The 47-year-old’s slender win triggered demonstrations, but will ease ties with Washington and extend a regional right-wing wave centred on “iron fist” security policies.“We are beginning a new era!” he told supporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla from behind thick bulletproof glass.“For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up!” he said, echoing his vow to wage war against drug-running guerrilla groups.US President Donald Trump cheered the result, exclaiming “He Won, BIG!” as a host of right-wing leaders from across the Americas clamoured to offer congratulations and support.