Abelardo de la Espriella, a US-backed lawyer with no prior public office, narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff on Sunday, securing 49.66 percent of the vote against left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda's 48.70 percent, according to nearly complete returns. The victory shifts the country sharply to the right, promising a crackdown on drug-running guerrilla groups and improved ties with Washington.
Victory Speech and Security Pledge
Speaking to supporters from behind bullet-proof glass in Barranquilla, the 47-year-old declared, "We are beginning a new era!" He added, "For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up!" US President Donald Trump and several right-wing leaders across the Americas quickly offered congratulations.
Protests and Unrest
The campaign was marred by guerrilla bomb attacks and the murder of a leading conservative candidate. As de la Espriella spoke, thousands protested in Cali, burning American flags and clashing with riot police. Meanwhile, supporters celebrated in multiple cities, wearing the canary-yellow national football jersey he adopted as a campaign uniform, waving flags and blowing horns.
Conciliatory Tone and Governance Pledge
With only a few hundred thousand votes separating the candidates, de la Espriella struck a conciliatory note: "Mine will be an absolutely democratic government and a guarantor of freedom and institutional order." He vowed to respect all races, religions, and political stripes, saying, "I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who chose another candidate."
Impact on Peace Process
The victory marks a return to power for Colombia's right wing, which has ruled for all but four of the last 200 years. De la Espriella, a dual US-Colombian national who calls himself "El Tigre," said he would scrap peace talks with dissident groups and launch a 90-day campaign of US-backed airstrikes against them. Although a landmark peace accord with FARC guerrillas was signed a decade ago, cartels and dissident groups still control pockets of the country, cocaine exports are at an all-time high, and Colombia remains one of the world's most economically unequal countries. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "Colombia's best days are ahead," and expressed eagerness to work with the incoming administration.
Cepeda's Response and Voter Concerns
Opponent Ivan Cepeda, 63, stopped short of conceding, saying he would wait until all votes are validated. The margin of error in the first count is usually in the low thousands, making a reversal unlikely. De la Espriella warned Cepeda to respect democracy and "don't even think about stoking violence," adding, "The Tiger can still bite you harder than he has bitten you at the ballot box." Cepeda's campaign appealed to poorer Colombians seeking economic equality and fearing a return to violence. Santiago Galindo, a 40-year-old bank worker who voted for Cepeda, expressed worry about "how far his thirst for power could go and his willingness to trample over people without really caring about them."
