Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella declares himself Colombia's president-elect

Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, representing the Defensores de la Patria movement, has declared himself Colombia's president-elect. He made the announcement on his personal X account on Sunday, following preliminary vote counts that suggest a narrow victory over leftist candidate Iván Cepeda.

According to the preliminary tally, with 99.91% of polling stations counted, De la Espriella secured 12,950,642 votes (49.65%), while Cepeda of the ruling Pacto Histórico party garnered 12,702,592 votes (48.70%). The slim margin of 0.95 percentage points between the two candidates is significantly tighter than pre-election polls had indicated.

In a video shared on X by U.S. Republican congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, De la Espriella stated, "Today Colombia won its most important match and to win the future and to solve Colombia's problems we need to establish a very close alliance with the United States." His X profile now reads: "President-elect of Colombia for the Defensores de la Patria movement. Father and Husband. Patriot. Lawyer. Businessman. Firm for the Fatherland."

The final results await official scrutiny, but the close contest highlights a deeply divided electorate. De la Espriella's declaration signals a potential shift in Colombia's political landscape, emphasizing a strong nationalistic stance and a desire for closer ties with the U.S.