BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Conservative political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella held a razor-thin lead Monday after Colombia’s deeply polarized presidential runoff, which is being challenged by the ruling party’s progressive candidate.
De la Espriella, a business owner and lawyer who earned U.S. President Donald Trump’s endorsement despite never having run for office, led progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda, taking 49.7% of the votes, with 99.9% of results released by electoral authorities. Cepeda, Petro’s ally, earned 48.7% support. Election officials have not formally announced a winner.
