BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Trump-endorsed outsider Abelardo de la Espriella appears to have won Colombia’s presidential election, making Colombia the latest country in Latin America to have chosen more conservative leadership.De la Espriella was leading over rival Iván Cepeda by about one percentage point — about 251,000 votes — with nearly all votes counted Monday. Officials have not yet declared a winner. Cepeda has challenged the results, but that review is unlikely to change the outcome.De la Espriella campaigned on a tough-on-crime approach, which includes proposals like canceling peace talks with Colombian rebel groups and building mega prisons, like those in El Salvador. He was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump who described the lawyer and business owner, nicknamed “The Tiger,” as the candidate who could restore law and order in Colombia.Here is a look at the Latin American countries that have elected conservative presidents in recent years:
Argentina chooses libertarian to tackle inflationJavier Milei, an economist and television commentator nicknamed “The Lion,” won Argentina’s presidential election in November 2023 by promising to slash government spending and tackle the South American nation’s decades-long inflation problem. The libertarian defeated the ruling Peronist movement.During his tenure, Milei has stopped the nation’s central bank from printing money to finance the government deficit and has cut government spending by firing civil servants and halting investment in public infrastructure programs, while reducing subsidies for public utility bills. Argentina’s inflation has fallen from 211% in 2023 to 32% in 2025. However some have blamed Milei’s austerity policies for decreasing the living standards of many Argentines, including public sector workers.
