Fujimori hails De la Espriella's win, sees 'new times' for Latin America

Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori celebrated the preliminary victory of ultranationalist Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia's presidential runoff, stating that "new times are blowing for Latin America." Fujimori, who received De la Espriella's support during her own decisive election moment in Peru, expressed confidence in his leadership for defending democracy, freedom, and order.

"Without a doubt, new winds are blowing for Latin America. A fraternal hug to all the Colombian people," Fujimori added, highlighting the perceived shift towards right-wing leadership in the region. Her statement comes as she awaits the final confirmation of her own victory in Peru's presidential election, held on June 7. With 99.68% of votes counted, Fujimori holds a narrow lead of approximately 41,000 votes over her leftist opponent, Roberto Sánchez, with about 60,000 votes pending evaluation by electoral juries due to challenges.

In Colombia, the preliminary count showed De la Espriella securing 12,950,642 votes (49.65%) against Iván Cepeda's 12,702,592 votes (48.70%), a difference of 248,050 votes. This result, pending final confirmation, signals a significant political shift in Colombia, aligning it with other Latin American countries that have recently elected right-wing leaders.

Fujimori, the leader of the Fujimorista party Fuerza Popular, emphasized the need for leaders with conviction and courage, aligning herself with De la Espriella's platform. The congratulatory message underscores the ideological connections and mutual support among certain right-wing political figures in Latin America, particularly in the context of recent electoral outcomes across the continent.