Right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has secured over 50% of the vote in Colombia's presidential runoff election, according to preliminary results. With nearly 90% of ballots counted, de la Espriella garnered 50.5% of the vote, data from the national registry office shows.

His leftist rival, Ivan Cepeda, trailed with 48.25% of the vote, about 427,000 votes behind. Cepeda, backed by incumbent President Gustavo Petro, has sought support from progressives and the poor, promising to expand social reforms.

De la Espriella, a 47-year-old businessman who calls himself 'The Tiger', won the first round in May by vowing to wage war on drug cartels and guerrilla groups. His campaign style has drawn comparisons to El Salvador's right-wing President Nayib Bukele.

Portraying himself as a tough crime fighter, de la Espriella has also voiced support for US President Donald Trump. 'Today is the most important ballot in Colombia's history,' he said after casting his vote in Barranquilla.

Colombia has struggled with the FARC guerrilla movement for decades. A historic peace accord was signed in 2016, but dissident branches remain active and are blamed for violence. In 2025, authorities recorded 14,780 homicides, the highest since at least 2015, driven by clashes among illegal armed groups.

Source: www.dw.com