{"id":984,"date":"2026-06-22T05:08:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=984"},"modified":"2026-06-22T05:08:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:08:55","slug":"trump-endorsed-de-la-espriella-holds-slim-lead-in-colombias-election-as-his-rival-challenges-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=984","title":{"rendered":"Trump-endorsed de la Espriella holds slim lead in Colombia\u2019s election as his rival challenges vote"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) \u2014 A polarized Colombia gave conservative political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella a razor-thin lead in a runoff election that will be challenged in the coming days by the ruling party\u2019s progressive candidate.<\/p>\n

Read more Starmer seen as likely to announce an exit timetable as rival Burnham heads to UK Parliament<\/a><\/p>\n

De la Espriella, a business owner and lawyer who earned U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s endorsement despite never having run for office, led progressive lawmaker Iv\u00e1n Cepeda taking 49.7% of the votes, with 99.9% of results released by electoral authorities. Cepeda, Petro\u2019s ally, earned 48.7% support. Election officials have not formally announced a winner.<\/p>\n

A victory by de la Espriella is expected to usher in policies that will reverse the agenda of outgoing President Gustavo Petro<\/span>, including a controversial plan to hold parallel peace negotiations with illegal armed groups. Petro\u2019s prot\u00e9g\u00e9, lawmaker Ivan Cepeda, had pledged to push forward that strategy and other social reforms if he won Sunday\u2019s vote.<\/p>\n

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The election was colored by people\u2019s fears of a renewed internal conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will govern for all Colombians,\u201d de la Espriella, nicknamed \u201cThe Tiger,\u201d told thousands of supporters as he stood behind bulletproof glass in the northern city of Barranquilla on Sunday night. But his conciliatory tone changed as he spoke. <\/p>\n

\u201cPack your bags and prepare to exercise the opposition,\u201d he added. \u201cMake no mistake, Mr. Cepeda. You already know how fiercely the tiger roars.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Speaking from Bogota after the vote count was tallied, Cepeda told supporters that his campaign considers the count \u201cunofficial and non-binding\u201d and that his team will challenge results from more than 30,000 voting stations. No recount has flipped the results of a presidential election in Colombian history. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not allow … the rollback of the social gains we have achieved,\u201d Cepeda said. \u201cWe will not allow democracy to be violated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Petro also vowed to challenge the outcome. Sunday\u2019s winner will begin a four-year term Aug. 7.<\/p>\n

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The two candidates pitched voters widely different strategies to prevent the South American country from experiencing the nonstop violence, such as car bombs, kidnappings, disappearances and forced displacements, that Colombians lived with in previous decades. <\/p>\n

Read more US, Iranian negotiators enter 2nd day of talks after rough start<\/a><\/p>\n

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