Colombia right-wing candidate De La Espriella has lead in tight presidential race

Colombia elected nationalist lawyer Abelardo ‌De La Espriella as its new President on Sunday (June 21, 2026), according to an initial ​vote count, marking a sharp political turn and bringing a hardline security agenda ⁠and market-friendly policies to the fore.

Nicknamed “The Tiger” by his followers, Mr. De La Espriella portrayed himself as an anti-establishment savior capable of reviving Colombia’s ailing economy and restoring order in a country rattled by illegal armed groups and drug trafficking.

Mr. De ‌La Espriella began gaining popularity early in the year with his tough-on-crime discourse. He pulled off a victory in the first round in late May with 43.7% ‌of the vote and then beat leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in the runoff with 49.66% ‌to Cepeda’s ⁠48.7%, according to the national registrar’s tally. De La Espriella, who blames outgoing President ⁠Gustavo for Colombia’s economic and security woes, won over a plurality ofvoters with pledges to reduce the size of the state by 40%, broaden the tax base and end peace efforts with armed groups in favor of a hardened military response.