Colombia Election: Right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella wins, initial count shows | WNYC

Colombia’s presidential election appears to have been won narrowly by right-wing populist candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, according to the preliminary “quick count” released by electoral authorities. With more than 99% of votes counted, De la Espriella led with 49.7%, while Iván Cepeda, his left-wing opponent, had 48.7%. Blank votes accounted for the remainder, and because the margin is razor-thin, no final result has been certified; an official manual count is expected over the coming days. Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, said his campaign is challenging results from around 33,000 polling stations, while Petro alleged irregularities and called for calm. De la Espriella, a millionaire businessman and criminal defense attorney nicknamed “El Tigre,” is backed by President Donald Trump and pledged a hardline security approach. His platform includes a sweeping military offensive, intensified attacks on drug-smuggling routes, and building ten “mega prisons,” alongside opening up the countryside to fracking and reversing Petro’s hydrocarbon moratorium. The vote count is being followed amid longstanding conflict intensified by armed group expansion.