Trump-backed outsider wins Colombia election, initial count shows

Trump-backed outsider wins Colombia election, initial count shows 13 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Ione Wells Barranquilla, Colombia BBC Crowds celebrated on the streets of Barranquilla The right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has narrowly won Colombia's presidential election, according to the initial vote count, marking a dramatic shift in how the government will tackle the country's internal armed conflict and violence. Espriella, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, has pledged a military crackdown on illegal armed groups, drug trafficking and crime. He defeated the left-wing Iván Cepeda, a close ally of the current president, Gustavo Petro. Reacting to the result, he said "today begins a new stage for our country, a stage built on the free and democratic will of millions of citizens who chose to believe in a great, safe, prosperous Colombia full of opportunities." With over 99% of votes counted, De La Espriella had won nearly 49.7% of the vote, while Cepeda won 48.7%. But Petro may challenge the result. He posted on X that "neither can be proclaimed president" after a "pre-count result" and demanded an audit of voting software, making allegations that some polling stations were "compromised" without providing evidence. Espriella, who was raised in the Caribbean coastal region, enjoyed significant regional support there. In Barranquilla, a city on the coast, a huge crowd of supporters gathered to celebrate his result. All of them donned the Colombian yellow football jersey and waved Colombian flags. They sang and danced to music from a stage lit up with photos of Espriella's face, chanting, "stand firm for the homeland" and "Petro out!", before a fireworks display. Some wore hats akin to Donald Trump supporters, but saying "Make Colombia Great Again!" Trump responded to the result, writing on Truth Social, "He Won, BIG!" "We are tired of the killings in this country. And tired of the bureaucracy of this government. We have a president from the coast!" one supporter, Patricia said. "We are proud of The Tiger. We hope he will change the country, to a new one where we can have jobs, and more security above everything," another supporter said. The polarising differences between the two candidates has led to mounting fears that there could be unrest in the country after the result, especially if some critics do not recognise the result. Who is Abelardo de la Espriella? Espriella is a lawyer and businessman with no prior political experience, who has nicknamed himself "El Tigre" (the Tiger.) As a lawyer his clients included Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuela's ousted president Nicolás Maduro, who faces US charges of money laundering, and David Murcia Guzman, one of Colombia's biggest fraudsters. He has said this was part of job as a defence lawyer. He has drawn comparisons with El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele for his security policies and even the style of his beard. At rallies and on social media, he and his supporters f