BOGOTÁ — Right-wing lawyer and political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella has claimed victory in Colombia’s presidential runoff after election authorities reported that the final vote count closely matched preliminary results, confirming his narrow lead over leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, officials said on Tuesday.
Colombia’s National Registry and electoral authorities said the official scrutiny process showed only a minimal difference from the initial tally released after voting on June 21. According to the registrar’s office, de la Espriella won with just under half of the vote, defeating Cepeda by less than one percentage point in one of the closest presidential contests in recent Colombian history.
The result marks a shift away from the policies of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, the country’s first left-wing president. De la Espriella campaigned on promises to strengthen security measures, support the oil and gas sector, and reduce the size of government while maintaining some social programs, according to campaign statements and election coverage.
Speaking after preliminary results were released, de la Espriella told supporters that Colombia had chosen “a path of order and opportunity,” according to Reuters.
Cepeda and members of the governing coalition initially questioned the outcome and requested a review of thousands of polling stations. The campaign said it would await the completion of the official verification process before fully accepting the result. President Petro also raised concerns about aspects of the vote-counting process, though election authorities said the final review confirmed the accuracy of the initial count.
International observers from the European Union said on Tuesday that the vote-counting process was transparent and efficient. The observer mission stated that it had found no evidence that would undermine confidence in the overall result, while noting that legal challenges submitted by campaigns would continue through established electoral procedures.
The campaign unfolded amid concerns over public security, economic conditions and political polarization. De la Espriella, who had not previously held elected office, gained support with a law-and-order platform and calls for closer security cooperation with international partners. Cepeda, a senator allied with Petro’s political movement, advocated continuity in several government policies, including peace initiatives and social programs.
As of Tuesday, electoral authorities said the official count had been completed and closely matched the preliminary tally. De la Espriella is expected to take office on Aug. 7, while legal reviews requested by opposition groups remain underway through Colombia’s electoral institutions.
