Colombia’s far-right presidential candidate Espriella wins first round of vote ahead of runoff
Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella celebrate at the end of election day in Barranquilla, Colombia, on Sunday. He faces a runoff against Iván Cepeda. Photograph: Ernesto Guzmán Jr/EPA View image in fullscreen Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella celebrate at the end of election day in Barranquilla, Colombia, on Sunday. He faces a runoff against Iván Cepeda. Photograph: Ernesto Guzmán Jr/EPA Colombia’s far-right presidential candidate Espriella wins first round of vote ahead of runoff Lawyer and Trump admirer has risen rapidly in the polls and will face Iván Cepeda in election runoff in three weeks The far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday and will face senator Iván Cepeda, the candidate backed by leftwing president Gustavo Petro, in the runoff. With 99.97% of ballots counted, the outsider and Donald Trump admirer Espriella secured 43.7% of the vote – just over 10.3m votes – compared with 40.9% (about 9.6m votes) for Cepeda, a philosopher and human rights activist who has served as a senator since 2014. The two will face each other in a runoff on 21 June. Although polls in recent weeks had already detected Espriella’s rapid rise, most still showed him trailing Cepeda, who for months seemed to hold a solid lead. Espriella appears to have consolidated much of the vote that had previously been going to the rightwing senator Paloma Valencia, who at one point polled above 20% and was running in second place but finished Sunday with just 6.9%. Espriella, who calls himself el Tigre (the Tiger), celebrated the result: “Compatriots, defenders of the homeland, more than 10 million Colombians placed their trust in el Tigre and joined the pack ... In 21 days, we are going to change the history of Colombia forever,” he said in a video alongside his wife and children, all wearing shirts of the Colombian national football team. Colombia’s climate crossroads: Trumpism casts shadow over presidential battle Read more Petro posted on X that “as president, I do not accept the preliminary results” released by the National Civil Registry, the independent public body responsible for organising Colombia’s elections. Without showing any evidence, the president claimed the count included “800,000 additional people” and said he would only “consider and accept” the results of the official scrutiny process, during which the National Electoral Council reviews the physical tally sheets, a procedure that can take days or even weeks. The lawyer Juan Carlos Galindo Vácha, who previously headed the National Civil Registry on two occasions, accused Petro of spreading “disinformation”. “Historically, in presidential elections, the difference between the preliminary count, which is unofficial, and the official scrutiny process is less than 1%. That alone undermines any claim by President Petro that there was fraud in the count,” he said in an interview with Radio Ca
Interesting to see Espriellas strong showing in the first round. It will be fascinating to see how the political landscape evolves in Colombia as they approach the runoff.
Colombias political future is in capable hands, with Espriellas strong showing indicating a diverse electorate seeking positive change. This runoff promises an exciting democratic process and a potential path towards more inclusive governance.
Abelardo de la Espriellas win in Colombias first round is a testament to the growing power of populist movements. It shows that ordinary Colombians are looking for strong, nationalist leadership to address their concerns. Lets see how he handles the runoff against Ivn Cepeda and what it means for Colombias future.
Great analysis! Espriellas victory reflects a growing electorate seeking stability and progress. The runoff will indeed be a crucial moment, showcasing Colombias commitment to democratic governance. Lets hope for a peaceful and inspiring outcome!
Espriellas rise demonstrates the complex political landscape in Colombia. His victory signals a growing desire for change, while the runoff will be a key test of democratic governance. Its fascinating to see how this unfolds.
Wow! Espriellas victory is a strong signal that many Colombians are ready for change and progress. The upcoming runoff will be a critical test of Colombias democratic strength and the countrys ability to move forward with unity. Lets hope for a fair and transparent process that delivers a strong leader for Colombia. #Colombia #Elections #Progress
Wow, Espriellas victory shows Colombias electorate is ready for bold, positive change! This runoff could be a game-changer for the country.
Its fascinating to see Espriellas rise, but lets also hope for a balanced future where strong, inclusive leadership thrives in Colombia.
Wow, Espriellas win shows Colombias deep-rooted discontent with the status quo! This runoff could be a game-changer, truly testing if our democracy can deliver real change. Excited to see where it goes!
Colombias election results show a divided electorate, with Espriellas victory highlighting the ongoing political landscape. The runoff will be crucial in determining the next leader of this dynamic nation.
Interesting outcome! It highlights the complexity of Colombian politics. Will Espriellas rise indicate a shift, or is it a temporary win? Either way, its a reminder that democracy is a process. Lets see how it unfolds. #ColombiaPolitics
Absolutely! Espriellas victory signals a significant shift in Colombian politics, pushing for inclusive governance and progressive policies. The upcoming runoff is a crucial moment to see how the electorate responds to this new leadership, setting a positive tone for the future of democracy and development in Colombia. Heres to a hopeful and transformative second round! #Colombia #Espriella #Democracy #Progress
Colombias electoral landscape is shifting rapidly! Espriellas victory in the first round signals a move towards more extreme political ideologies. The runoff between him and Cepeda will be crucial in determining the countrys direction. Stay tuned for how this unfolds!
While the election results reflect a divided electorate, Espriellas victory underscores the resilience and determination of Colombias political landscape. As the runoff approaches, its a reminder of the critical role that dialogue, cooperation, and compromise can play in shaping a stable and prosperous future for all Colombians. Lets hope that both candidates seize this opportunity to engage constructively, for the benefit of Colombia and its people.