Far-Right Billionaire Abelardo de la Espriella Wins Colombia’s Presidential Election: What Comes Next?

Far-right billionaire Abelardo de la Espriella, 47, won Colombia’s second-round presidential election on June 22, 2026, according to preliminary results, defeating leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who was backed by outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

Preliminary results from the national registry show de la Espriella securing 49.66% of the vote, against Cepeda’s 48.7%, a margin of around 250,000 ballots. More than 26.3 million of Colombia’s 41.4 million eligible voters cast ballots.

In the first round on May 31, de la Espriella had led with 43% to Cepeda’s 40%.

Cepeda said he would await a recount of each vote, stating his campaign is challenging results from approximately 33,000 polling stations—nearly a quarter of the 122,000 total. Addressing supporters in Bogotá, Cepeda declared: “We are ready to talk. We are ready to reach agreements as long as they are respectful, sincere, and reflected in political actions that benefit the country and preserve the historic progress we have made.”

Under Colombian law, the final certified count—overseen by notaries and judges—was nearly complete by the end of June 22. It is unclear whether the final tally will match the preliminary count.

Dr. Annette Idler, a professor of global security at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, said: “De la Espriella’s victory marks a dramatic ideological reversal. Just four years after Colombia elected its first leftist president, the country has swung hard to the right, joining a regional wave of strongman-style politicians.” She also noted the deep polarization evident in a margin of less than 1% and the fact that over half the country did not back him.

Who Is Colombia’s New President?

Abelardo de la Espriella is a lawyer and businessman with no prior political experience. He would become president if the final result is confirmed. An investigation by digital newspaper La Silla Vacía revealed that many of his businesses have been dissolved, posted losses, or carry debt; his law firm is his most profitable venture. He also holds U.S. and Italian citizenship and owns homes in multiple countries.

De la Espriella blames President Petro for economic and security woes and has pledged to end talks with armed groups, boost the oil and gas sector, cut taxes, and shrink the state apparatus by 40%. However, he says he will maintain Petro’s 23% minimum wage increase and other popular social measures.

During the campaign, he vowed to launch a 90-day military offensive against armed groups, inspired by the tough-on-crime policies of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. He told supporters in Barranquilla: “I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who chose other candidates.”

What Comes Next?

The razor-thin margin may force de la Espriella, who takes office on August 7, to moderate some proposals to secure support from a divided Congress. Cepeda’s Historic Pact party holds the most seats in both the Senate and House but lacks a majority.

The incoming president also faces high public debt, at roughly 60% of GDP. Analysts and credit rating agencies say weak revenue and high spending make it tough to meet this year’s fiscal deficit target of 5.3% of GDP.

Dr. Idler noted: “The immediate question is whether the result will be officially confirmed. If confirmed, de la Espriella will struggle to govern a deeply divided country. Armed groups may respond to his promised 90-day military campaign, opposition parties have many ways to block his agenda, and political tensions have already sparked clashes between protesters and police in Cali on election night.”

How Will U.S.-Colombia Relations Change?

Bilateral ties are likely to improve markedly. After his victory was announced, de la Espriella received a congratulatory call from Trump, who wrote on Truth Social: “He won, BIG!” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also phoned to congratulate him, saying the Trump administration looks forward to cooperating on regional security cooperation, ending illegal migration to the U.S., and strengthening economic ties.

Under President Petro, bilateral relations deteriorated significantly. Trump publicly clashed with Petro, and Democratic lawmakers criticized Trump’s open support for de la Espriella. Dr. Idler explained: “Espriella, a U.S. citizen who lived in Miami for years, takes office with an agenda aligned with Washington’s regional priorities. Whether improved diplomatic relations actually deliver better outcomes for Colombians is a much harder question.”