Conservative Claims Victory in Colombia as Latin America Continues to Shift Right

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Latin America’s political right appeared to score another major victory Sunday as conservative political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by President Donald Trump, declared victory in Colombia’s cliffhanger presidential runoff — a result that could mark a sharp rebuke of outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro and further signal the region’s growing turn toward law-and-order, market-oriented leadership.

With nearly all ballots counted, de la Espriella led liberal rival Iván Cepeda by roughly one percentage point, taking 49.7% of the vote to Cepeda’s 48.7%, according to preliminary results. Election officials had not formally certified the outcome Sunday night, but de la Espriella moved quickly to claim a mandate.

“The Colombian people, the masses, spoke out and we defeated the regime,” de la Espriella said, urging all sides to respect the results.

The election was widely viewed as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro, whose leftist government faced growing frustration over crime, economic stagnation, and instability. De la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer making his first run for public office, campaigned on restoring order, confronting criminal networks, and reviving Colombia’s economy through market-oriented reforms.

President Trump, who endorsed de la Espriella, congratulated him after the preliminary count showed him ahead.

“He won, BIG!” Trump wrote on social media.

The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio called de la Espriella to congratulate him, describing the result as a reflection of “the will of the Colombian people and their commitment to democracy.”

“The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with his incoming administration to advance our bilateral and regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen the economic ties between our two countries,” the department said.

De la Espriella’s rise marks a dramatic political reversal in Colombia, where Petro’s 2022 victory had been celebrated by the regional left as part of a progressive wave. Four years later, voters appear to have turned sharply toward law-and-order conservatism, echoing political shifts in Argentina, Ecuador, and other nations where frustration over crime, inflation, corruption, and migration has fueled support for right-leaning leaders.

The Colombian president-elect is also closely tied to the United States. A dual U.S. and Colombian citizen, de la Espriella is a registered Republican and previously worked in Miami, where he built connections with conservative political and business circles.

His narrow victory, if certified, could reshape Washington’s relationship with Bogota after years of tension under Petro. For the Trump administration, Colombia’s shift rightward offers a potential strategic partner in the fight against drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the growing influence of socialist and authoritarian movements across the hemisphere.

Still, the tight margin suggests de la Espriella will inherit a deeply divided country. Cepeda had not conceded Sunday night, and allies of the outgoing government raised questions about the vote count. De la Espriella’s first test may be whether he can convert a narrow electoral edge into a governing coalition capable of restoring confidence in Colombia’s institutions.

For now, his supporters are celebrating what they see as a turning point: a rejection of Petro’s leftist experiment and a renewed embrace of security, sovereignty, and closer ties with the United States.

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