Abelardo de la Esprieya, a representative of the right-wing, has been elected as Colombia’s new president – according to preliminary results from the second round of the election, which took place on 21 June.
According to preliminary results, de la Esprieya received around 49.66 per cent of the vote, whilst his rival, the left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, received around 48.7 per cent. The margin was approximately 250,000 votes. Cepeda has not yet conceded defeat, calling for the results to be verified. However, de la Esprieya and his supporters are already celebrating victory.
The frontrunner was backed by US President Donald Trump. He has promised to strengthen relations with the US, step up the fight against crime and implement economic reforms. Sepeda has pledged to continue the policies of the current president, Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, who, amongst other things, has clashed with Trump and severed ties with Israel.
De La Esprieya is a lawyer, a millionaire and a dual citizen of the US and Italy. He positioned himself as a candidate unconnected to the political establishment and built his campaign on promises of greater economic freedom, stronger ties with the US, and the fight against drug trafficking. He promised to strengthen relations with democracies around the world and to sever ties with those who are “enemies of freedom”.
Commentators note that the victory of the Trump-backed candidate in Colombia is the latest in a series of similar results across Latin America. Previously, right-wing or populist forces have come to power in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Bolivia and Ecuador. The recount of votes in the Peruvian election is also likely to confirm a victory for the right. The left remains in power in Brazil and Mexico for the time being.