Iván Cepeda concedes Colombia’s election to Trump-backed Abelardo de la Espriella
Trump congratulates Colombia’s presidential election
Trump congratulated Abelardo De La Espriella, known to many as ‘El Tigre,’ following the first vote count. Although not officially called, the small lead shows the potential volatility of Colombia. (Reuters.)
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Candidate Iván Cepeda on Wednesday conceded the Colombian presidential election to the dissident foreigner Abelardo de la Espriella, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
This agreement came days after Cepeda initially refused to admit that he had lost following the initial results which showed that de la Espriella was the winner.
“In this phase of the counting of votes, I have decided to accept the results from that process, which indicate that Abelardo de la Espriella is the new President of the Republic,” said Cepeda in his speech to the nation.
“I do that as an act of democratic responsibility.”
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Ivan Cepeda speaks during a campaign rally in Cali, Colombia, on June 6, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)
De la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer who had never run for office, known to his supporters as “El Tigre,” defeated Senate member Iván Cepeda by one percentage point in an incredibly close election, according to officials.
“The number of votes shows a narrow margin between the two options that claim the trust of the Colombian people,” he said. “Less than 1% of the votes divided the people who participated in this contest.”
Despite his admission, Cepeda made serious allegations that de la Espriella’s victory was influenced by “foreign interference” by the United States and the use of artificial intelligence to sway voters.
“During this process, we denounced the open and inappropriate foreign interference in the internal affairs of Colombia-especially the intervention of the United States government, and especially the intervention of President Donald Trump in support of Abelardo de la Espriella,” he said.
He also accused the opposition campaign of widespread vote-buying and unethical tactics that he said undermined the legitimacy of the election results.
ANTI-CARTEL HARDLINER CHANNELS TRUMP IN AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE LEFT’S TERM IN COLOMBIA’S GENERAL ELECTIONS
Abelardo de la Espriella addresses supporters during a campaign rally in Palmira, near Cali, Colombia on May 14, 2026. (Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images)
President-elect de la Espriella will begin his four-year term in August.
“Starting on August 7, we will work diligently to put together a common agenda that strengthens the security, freedom, and prosperity of our nations,” de la Espriella in the X song.
The result will effectively end the influence of outgoing President Gustavo Petro on the left of the government and the policies that Cepeda has pledged to continue if he wins the election.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, left, and President Donald Trump are shown in separate photos. (Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images; Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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A key pillar of Petro’s signature agenda was his “total peace” strategy, which aims to open talks with remaining guerrillas, drug gangs, and armed groups in an effort to end Colombia’s decades-long internal conflict.
In contrast, de la Espriella promised a tougher approach, including the military crackdown on criminal organizations, proposals to build large prisons, increase fuel fracking, and renew the controversial practice of spraying glyphosate in the air to eradicate coca crops.
The president-elect, who holds dual Colombian and US citizenship, also said he plans to add Colombia to Trump’s so-called “Shield of the Americas,” a proposed coalition aimed at unifying efforts to fight criminal groups in Latin America.
