Former U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, stating that nearly all votes have been counted in Colombia's presidential election and that de la Espriella is in the lead. Speaking to reporters at an event at the White House, Trump said, "He called me last night and thanked me for my support. He won. He won the election."
When asked about U.S.-Colombia relations, Trump said, "It will be much better. It will be better. He will be a great president."
Election results and challenge
With 99.9% of the votes counted, Abelardo de la Espriella received 49.7% of the vote, while leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda received 48.7%. Although official results have not yet been announced, de la Espriella appears to hold a narrow lead.
Ivan Cepeda contested the election results, alleging irregularities in thousands of polling stations. However, overturning an election result in this manner would be unprecedented in Colombia's history.
Candidate profiles
Abelardo de la Espriella, referred to as 'El Tigre' by his supporters, has received enthusiastic backing from Donald Trump. Promising a return to former President Alvaro Uribe's 'law and order' approach, de la Espriella has pledged an aggressive military campaign against guerrilla groups and criminal organizations.
Ivan Cepeda has long been a prominent figure in Colombia's left and served as a senator for 12 years. His father, Manuel Cepeda, was a leading figure in the Colombian Communist Party and was assassinated in 1994 during a bloody period of the country's internal conflict.
Regional impact
De la Espriella's victory reflects a continent-wide shift to the right seen in recent election results in Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. The election was contested between candidates representing two opposing ends of Colombia's political spectrum.
In the first round held on May 31, de la Espriella received 43.7% of the vote, while Cepeda received 40.9%. Right-wing Senator Paloma Valencia came in third with 6.9%.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated de la Espriella in a statement on Sunday evening, saying, "The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation and end illegal immigration to the United States."
