Bogotá, June 22 (SANA) Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia’s presidential runoff, narrowly defeating left-wing rival Iván Cepeda, according to preliminary official results on Sunday.
With more than 99% of ballots counted, de la Espriella secured 49.65% of the vote, compared with 48.70% for Cepeda, a left-wing senator, AFP reported.
De la Espriella said he received a congratulatory phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that Washington had expressed support for Colombia, in the context of longstanding bilateral ties.
The 47-year-old president-elect, who also holds U.S. citizenship, is seen as part of a broader rightward political shift across Latin America, which could influence regional political and security alignments.
During his campaign, de la Espriella pledged to end ongoing peace talks with rebel groups and pursue a more military-focused approach, a stance that could complicate existing fragile peace agreements.
N.J/ABD
