Trump-backed far-right populist wins Colombia's razor-tight presidential election

Abelardo de la Espriella, a candidate endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has secured a narrow victory in Colombia's presidential runoff election, according to preliminary counts released on Sunday, June 21, 2026. De la Espriella, a political outsider with a far-right stance, received approximately 49.6% of the votes, surpassing his leftist opponent, Iván Cepeda, who garnered about 48.7%. This razor-thin margin, amounting to roughly 250,000 votes, indicates a deeply divided electorate.

De la Espriella's win signals a significant shift towards the right for Colombia, succeeding the leftist administration of President Gustavo Petro. His campaign emphasized a tough stance on crime and drug trafficking, echoing sentiments from other conservative leaders in Latin America. Following the preliminary results, Cepeda and the outgoing President Petro challenged the count, calling for a thorough review and refusing to concede immediately.

The election outcome has sparked protests in several Colombian cities, with demonstrators expressing discontent over the results. Despite the challenges, historical precedent in Colombia suggests that preliminary tallies typically align closely with the final certified results.