Colombia's National Electoral Council (CNE) has approved the second round results of the presidential election for the 2026-2030 term, officially declaring right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella president. In a statement at the proclamation ceremony, CNE President Cristian Quiroz said, "Today the CNE has completed one of the most important and historic steps of our democracy: the national vote count process for the second round of the presidential election has been finalized."
Quiroz emphasized that the general count was not merely a bureaucratic procedure but meant the most meticulous verification of the people's will. Acting Registrar for Elections Jaime Hernando Suarez officially announced that Espriella was elected president and Jose Manuel Restrepo as vice president.
Election results
In the second round, Espriella, the candidate of the Homeland Defenders Movement, received 49.66% of the vote, while left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact Alliance garnered 48.70%. Espriella will take over from current President Gustavo Petro in a handover ceremony on August 7.
Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?
Espriella, who adopted the nickname "El Tigre (The Tiger)" during his election campaign, is a 47-year-old lawyer and millionaire businessman known for his closeness to U.S. President Donald Trump. He formed his own political movement in July 2025 and entered the presidential race to prevent the left, led by President Petro and Senator Cepeda, who is seen as his successor, from continuing in power.
About 20 years ago, Espriella took part in peace negotiations between the former government of President Alvaro Uribe and the paramilitary group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). Among his clients is Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab, who is said to be close to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and was recently extradited to the United States on charges of money laundering and sanctions violations.
Controversial past and election promises
During the election campaign, his left-wing rival Ivan Cepeda accused Espriella of links to paramilitary groups because of this past. Espriella, who claims to have received death threats, held his campaign rallies behind bulletproof glass.
Espriella's prominent election promises include building 10 "mega prisons," ending the Petro government's "Total Peace" policy, and implementing a harsher, military-focused security strategy to combat drug trafficking and armed groups.
