Colombia elects far-right leader Abelardo de la Espriella in narrow victory

Colombia has elected Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right candidate, as its new president, marking another shift towards the right in Latin America. De la Espriella won the June 21 runoff election by a slim margin, securing 49.66% of the vote compared to his progressive opponent Ivan Cepeda's 48.7%. Cepeda, a human rights defender, acknowledged the preliminary results but stated he would await final consolidated figures before making a formal statement. His campaign has reported irregularities in approximately 30,000 polling stations and is requesting verification. De la Espriella has consistently emphasized his close ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump, aligning Colombia with other Latin American nations that have recently seen right-wing leaders elected. The close race and reported irregularities suggest a potentially contentious political landscape ahead for the new administration.

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his campaign is demanding verifications in 30,000 polling stations where irregularities have been reported by witnesses.