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3w ago

De La Espriella Certified as Colombia’s President-Elect After Tight Runoff

The result signals a sharp policy turn toward closer ties with Israel and the United States, testing a narrow mandate against a fragmented Congress and tight public finances.

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FILE - Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the opposition Defenders of the Motherland movement speaks to supporters from inside a bulletproof booth at a celebration rally after runoff election results showed him leading in Barranquilla, Colombia, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File)
De la Espriella pledges to restore Colombia’s relations with Israel

Overview

  • Electoral authorities completed the official count and Iván Cepeda conceded, with the certification confirmed on Wednesday, June 24, making Abelardo de la Espriella the president-elect.
  • De la Espriella won by about one percentage point, roughly 251,000 votes, in a runoff that drew a record turnout of more than 26 million voters.
  • The president-elect has publicly pledged to restore and dramatically strengthen relations with Israel after a congratulatory call with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar and has said he will deepen security cooperation with the United States.
  • He has announced a hardline security plan that includes ordering guerrilla groups to surrender within one month, building ‘mega-prisons,’ and pursuing expanded military and intelligence ties to target cartels and armed groups.
  • Governing will hinge on coalition building because his movement holds few legislative seats, he named Rodrigo Lara as interior minister to manage Congress, and tight fiscal constraints plus persistent violence will limit how quickly he can deliver his agenda.