Colombia's presidential candidate for the Defensores de la Patria movement, Abelardo de la Espriella, speaks to supporters from behind bullet-proof glass following the preliminary results of the presidential runoff election at the Ventana al Mundo monument in Barranquilla, Colombia, on June 21, 2026. Photo: AFP
A flamboyant US-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia’s presidential runoff Sunday, swinging the country hard to the right on a promise to wage war against drug-running guerrilla groups.
With just a handful of polling centres left to report, Abelardo de la Espriella had 49.65 per cent of the vote — an unassailable lead over left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, who trailed on 48.70 per cent.
The 47-year-old’s victory will likely improve strained relations with Washington and extend a wave of rightist candidates who have swept to power across Latin America.
“Today Colombia won its most important game,” the president-elect said in a series of social media posts, adding he had spoken to US President Donald Trump, who offered congratulations and support.
