BOGOTÁ — Right-wing outsider Abelardo De La Espriella won Colombia’s presidential runoff election, according to preliminary results released by the National Civil Registry on Sunday, defeating left-wing senator Iván Cepeda in a closely contested vote that marked a political shift after four years of President Gustavo Petro’s administration.
With most ballots counted, De La Espriella secured just under half of the vote, narrowly ahead of Cepeda, election authorities said. The lawyer and businessman, who ran as the candidate of the Defenders of the Homeland movement, is scheduled to take office on Aug. 7 for a four-year term. Preliminary election data showed a margin of victory of less than one percentage point.
The National Civil Registry said vote counting continued on Monday, though the preliminary tally indicated that De La Espriella held a lead unlikely to be overturned. Details of the final certified result remained pending.
Speaking to supporters in Barranquilla after the results were announced, De La Espriella called for national unity. “We will govern for all Colombians,” he said, according to reports of his victory speech. He also urged political rivals to respect institutional procedures as electoral authorities completed the count.
Cepeda, a senator from the governing left-wing Historic Pact coalition, campaigned on preserving many of the social and economic policies pursued under Petro. Following the preliminary results, Cepeda and some members of the governing coalition called for a full review of the vote count and urged supporters to await the official certification process. Government officials did not immediately concede the race, citing what they described as irregularities that should be examined through legal channels.
The runoff followed a first-round election on May 31 in which neither candidate secured the majority required for an outright victory. De La Espriella led that vote, while Cepeda finished second, setting up a polarized contest between two candidates with sharply different views on security, economic policy and relations with armed groups.
De La Espriella, known nationally as a lawyer and media personality, campaigned on promises to strengthen security policies, reduce public spending and expand support for the private sector. Cepeda emphasized social programs and continuity with parts of the current administration’s agenda.
As of Monday, electoral authorities were continuing the formal counting and certification process. De La Espriella remained the president-elect based on preliminary results, while officials said the final declaration would follow completion of the official review procedures.
