Colombia elects far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in tight presidential race

Colombia has swung to the far-right with the election of Abelardo de la Espriella, a controversial multimillionaire lawyer backed by Donald Trump. Preliminary results show de la Espriella secured a narrow victory, winning the presidency by less than a single percentage point over his left-wing opponent, Ivan Cepeda.

The election was exceptionally close, with de la Espriella garnering 49.66% of the vote compared to Cepeda's 48.7%, according to official preliminary results. This outcome marks a significant political shift for Colombia, as de la Espriella will succeed Gustavo Petro, the nation's first-ever left-wing president.

Cepeda, a progressive senator and human rights defender, has acknowledged the validity of the preliminary results. However, he stated that he would await the final results before making a definitive statement. The close race underscores the deep political divisions within the country.

De la Espriella, who has no prior political experience, campaigned on a platform that resonated with a segment of the electorate seeking a change from Petro's policies. His victory signals a new direction for Colombia's political landscape, with potential implications for domestic and international policies.