All articles tagged with #abelardo de la espriella
Eleven people were wounded in a car bombing in Cucuta days before right-wing President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella takes office. No group claimed responsibility, though several rebel and criminal groups operate in the area. De la Espriella condemned the attack and pledged a hardline security stance as Colombia transitions from Petro, with his inauguration planned for Aug. 7 in Bogota.
Trump-endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella led a razor-thin runoff in Colombia as over 99% of votes were counted, about 49.7% to Iván Cepeda’s 48.7%. De la Espriella has pledged a hardline crackdown on illegal armed groups, drug trafficking and crime, signaling a shift from the incumbent peace approach. Cepeda has not conceded and called for an official audit as tensions and protests surfaced in Barranquilla and Cali. The result, if confirmed, could mark a rightward tilt in Colombian politics amid ongoing internal conflict and security concerns.
Far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly defeats Iván Cepeda in Colombia’s presidential runoff, securing about 49.65% to 48.7% (roughly 248,000-vote margin) with 99.65% counted. His win marks a turn away from four years of Petro and a broader Latin American trend toward the right. De la Espriella has promised a hardline security approach, including ten maximum-security “mega-prisons,” seeking U.S. backing for actions against coca cultivation, and shrinking the state by about 40%. He will take office on August 7 with a minority in Congress, alongside vice-president José Manuel Restrepo, in a deeply polarized country. Petro has questioned the preliminary results and called for the official scrutiny process to conclude before declaring a final outcome.
Colombia moves toward a presidential runoff between far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by Donald Trump, and leftist Iván Cepeda of the Historic Pact. De la Espriella led the first round with about 43.7% of votes, Cepeda just under 41%, forcing a June runoff. The campaign centers on security, crime, and governance, with de la Espriella advocating a hardline, “Plan Colombia 2.0”-style approach and Cepeda pushing negotiations and a continued social agenda. The result could reshape U.S.-Colombia ties and reflect a broader political shift amid concerns about violence, health reform, and regional geopolitics.
Colombia will decide its presidency in a June 21 runoff after Abelardo de la Espriella led the first round with 43.74% and Iván Cepeda trailed with 40.90%, with Paloma Valencia at 6.92%. The race pits a right‑wing, security‑focused platform seeking closer ties with the United States (and Israel) against Cepeda’s leftist, Petro‑era agenda emphasizing social reforms and diplomacy. The outcome could redefine domestic policy and Colombia’s foreign stance, including drug interdiction and regional diplomacy, regardless of which candidate wins the presidency.
Abelardo de la Espriella led the first round with about 44% and will face Iván Cepeda in a June runoff, as voters weigh a hardline crackdown on crime against Cepeda’s push to continue peace negotiations.
Colombians cast ballots in a tight first round pitting leftist Ivan Cepeda, who pledges peace talks and broader social reforms, against hardline advocate Abelardo De La Espriella and right-wing Paloma Valencia, who push anti‑corruption measures, security crackdowns and oil-and-gas policies to fund social programs; Cepeda is unlikely to hit the 50% threshold, making a June runoff likely.