Abelardo de la Espriella has claimed a narrow victory in Colombia’s presidential election after taking a slim lead over Senator Iván Cepeda in the preliminary vote count, with the official scrutiny process still under way.
De la Espriella used his victory speech in Barranquilla to pledge that his administration would uphold Colombia’s constitution and govern inclusively. Addressing those who had not supported him, he said he would be the president of “all Colombians”, adding: “Your rights… will be respected. Your opinions will be heard. You will never have to fear thinking differently.”
The remarks followed criticism of his campaign rhetoric, including a previous comment about “disembowelling” the left, which he later described as a figure of speech.
Key developments:
- De la Espriella received 12.96 million votes (49.66%), ahead of Cepeda’s 12.7 million (48.7%).
- President Petro and Cepeda said they would await the official scrutiny before recognising the final outcome.
- The president-elect pledged to uphold Colombia’s constitution, strengthen security and deepen cooperation with the United States.
De la Espriella, who takes office on 7 August 2026, has also pledged to adopt tougher measures against organised crime and pursue economic reforms despite governing with a congressional minority.
ℹ️ The Guardian
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