Colombia Election: Trump Congratulates 'The Tiger' Who Appears to Have Won Presidency

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella is poised to win Colombia's presidential election, according to preliminary results. With 99.98 percent of votes tallied, de la Espriella secured 49.66 percent, narrowly defeating his leftist opponent Ivan Cepeda, who garnered 48.7 percent.

Cepeda has stated he will await the final audit of votes before conceding. De la Espriella, a 47-year-old millionaire lawyer who is new to politics, received an endorsement from former US President Donald Trump. Trump celebrated the apparent victory on Truth Social, exclaiming, "He won, BIGLY!"

Colombia's outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, made history as the country's first leftist leader, serving a single term limit. De la Espriella has campaigned on a platform critical of Petro's administration, blaming him for the nation's economic and security problems. De la Espriella has vowed to end negotiations with rebel groups and criminal organizations.

Dubbed "El Tigre" (The Tiger), de la Espriella has cultivated an image as an anti-elite populist promising to revitalize Colombia's struggling economy and restore order to a country plagued by drug trafficking and organized crime. His victory, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift in Colombia's political landscape after Petro's progressive presidency.

“

He won, BIGLY!