25/06/2026 13:11 - Internacionales
Date: June 24, 2026
Colombia's National Electoral Council (CNE)—the country's highest electoral authority responsible for overseeing elections—has completed the official vote count and confirmed the victory of Abelardo De la Espriella, a lawyer and right-wing political outsider.
De la Espriella and his vice-presidential running mate, José Manuel Restrepo, will assume office for the 2026-2030 presidential term. The official proclamation took place at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Abelardo De la Espriella | 12,960,166 | 49.66% |
| Iván Cepeda | 12,708,312 | 48.70% |
The winning margin was approximately 252,000 votes in one of Colombia's closest presidential races in recent history.
Nicknamed "El Tigre" (The Tiger), De la Espriella is a lawyer and political outsider who ran on a platform emphasizing security and economic reform. His style and policies draw comparisons to other Latin American right-wing leaders like Javier Milei (Argentina's current president) and Nayib Bukele (El Salvador's president), both known for their anti-establishment rhetoric and strong security measures.
Colombia is South America's second-most populous country with about 52 million people. It has struggled for decades with internal armed conflict involving guerrilla groups, drug cartels, and paramilitary organizations. The country has been governed in recent years by left-wing president Gustavo Petro, making this right-wing victory a dramatic political shift.
De la Espriella has pledged to:
In a demonstration of Colombia's democratic maturity, candidate Iván Cepeda—representing the Pacto Histórico coalition (a left-wing alliance that brought Gustavo Petro to power in 2022)—publicly accepted the results after the vote count concluded.
Cepeda thanked all witnesses and legal representatives who participated in the electoral process. His coalition's lawyers withdrew pending complaints during the National Scrutiny Hearing, clearing the way for the official declaration.
Under Colombian law, Cepeda will now assume a seat in the Senate through the Opposition Statute, a mechanism that guarantees representation to the runner-up in presidential elections.
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro called for peaceful resistance and a respectful transition of power.
Sources: Infobae Colombia, La Voz
Alfredo S. Quiroga
