US-backed political newcomer wins Colombia election, marking country's right-wing shift

By Evelyn Ann-Marie Dom Published on 22/06/2026 - 11:56 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copied With nearly all votes counted, the election results polarised the country, sparking both celebrations and protests across the country. Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who was endorsed by US President Donald Trump, narrowly won Colombia's presidential election on Sunday. The polarising result triggered both celebrations and protests across the country. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT With over 99% of the votes counted, de la Espriella, a political newcomer who had never run for office before, secured 49.66% of the vote, while left-wing lawmaker Iván Cepeda's held 48.70%. The win is expected to mark a sharp shift away from the agenda of outgoing president Gustavo Petro, whose strategy Cepeda had pledged to continue if he won. A supporter of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella light a flare at a celebration rally after polls closed in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, June 21, 2026. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd De la Espriella, instead, is expected to take a tougher stance on security policies and vowed a crackdown against drug-running guerilla groups. Addressing supporters in a bulletproof booth at a celebration rally in Barranquilla, de la Espriella announced the "beginning of a new era," and promised to "govern for all Colombians". "For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up!" he added. The 47-year-old lawyer's win is also expected to pave the way for closer ties between Colombia and the United States. US President Donald Trump celebrated the victory on Truth Social writing, "He Won, BIG!". Also Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated de la Espriella. Rubio wrote on X that Washington looked forward to "advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties," adding that "Colombia's best days are ahead". Colombia shifts right, triggering protests across country Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in several Colombian cities to protest the election results. In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, clashes broke out between police and protesters. Demonstrators burned US flags while police used tear gas to break up crowds. In Bogotá, demonstrators burned tires and hurled bricks at police. Supporters of presidential candidate Iván Cepeda burn a US flag after election results showed him trailing in the runoff election in Cali, Colombia, Sunday, June 21, 2026. AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga "[It's the fact that they] chose war and the destruction of our country over the opportunities offered through the continuity of [Gustavo Petro’s] administration under [Iván] Cepeda," Marta Suarez, a supporter of Iván Cepeda said. Others, however, were elated of the results. "I'm very happy," supporter Daniela Oliveros said in Barranquilla. "Abelardo, at this moment, is giving us above all a sense of security, employment, and dignity". Cepeda refused to concede, calling the results of the presidential runoff provisional. "We recognize the vote count carried out tonight as a figure that is still, as of now, neither official nor binding," he said while speaking to a crowd of supporters in Bogotá. "Once the vote count is complete and the final results are in, and the necessary verifications have been carried out, we will recognize the official results of that vote count," he added. Hundreds of thousands of votes would need to be overturned for Cepeda to win, an unlikely scenario given that the discrepancies between the preliminary count and the final count is usually in the low thousands. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more China announces sanctions on 10 US companies as trade tensions flare Latest news bulletin | June 22nd, 2026 – Morning Latest news bulletin | June 21st, 2026 – Evening World News USA Colombian politics Colombia