De la Espriella narrowly wins Colombia presidency

Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly won Colombia’s presidential runoff, according to the initial ballot count, handing the country’s right wing a return to power and triggering protests in several major cities.

With nearly all ballots counted, De la Espriella had 49.66 percent of the vote to 48.70 percent for left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, according to electoral figures reported by CBS News. Al Jazeera reported De la Espriella at 49.7 percent with 99.9 percent of results released early Monday. More than 26 million people voted, about 63 percent of registered voters, and the margin between the candidates was about 247,000 votes.

“We are beginning a new era!” De la Espriella told supporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla from behind thick bulletproof glass. “For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up!”

The 47-year-old lawyer, who has never held public office, was backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and campaigned on a hardline security platform. Trump celebrated the result, writing, “He Won, BIG!” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also congratulated him, saying, “Colombia’s best days are ahead,” and that Washington “looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration.”

De la Espriella, a dual U.S.-Colombian national according to CBS News, and also a citizen of Italy according to Al Jazeera, has pledged to end peace talks with dissident armed groups and launch a 90-day campaign of U.S.-backed air attacks against them. He has also promised to boost the oil and gas sector and lower taxes, while blaming outgoing President Gustavo Petro for Colombia’s economic and security problems.

In his victory speech, De la Espriella sought to reassure opponents after a divisive campaign marked by guerrilla bomb attacks and the killing of a leading conservative presidential candidate. “Mine will be an absolutely democratic government and a guarantor of freedom and institutional order,” he said. “I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who choose another candidate.”

Cepeda, 63, stopped short of conceding. “Once the count has been completed and its final result is known, and the corresponding checks have been carried out, we will acknowledge the official result,” he told supporters. Al Jazeera reported that Cepeda’s campaign is challenging results from about 33,000 of 122,000 ballot boxes.

“We are open to dialogue; we are willing to reach agreements as long as they are respectful, genuine, and reflected in political actions that benefit the nation and preserve the historical progress we have already achieved,” Cepeda said.

CBS News reported that De la Espriella warned Cepeda to respect the vote, form the opposition and not to “even think about stoking violence.” He added: “The Tiger can still bite you harder than he has bitten you at the ballot box.”

The result brought celebrations in parts of the country. Supporters wearing the yellow national football jersey De la Espriella adopted as a campaign uniform poured into streets, waved flags and blew horns. “I’m very happy,” supporter Daniela Oliveros, 30, said in Barranquilla. “I believe a lot in the country, I believe a lot in freedom.”

But CBS News reported that thousands of protesters gathered in Colombia’s largest cities as night fell. In Cali, some burned American flags while others clashed with riot police, who used tear gas. In Bogota, demonstrators burned tires and threw bricks at police. “We’ve already had many years of right-wing governments that care only about making the rich richer,” 26-year-old student Natalia told AFP.

De la Espriella’s win marks a return to power for Colombia’s right wing, which has governed for all but four of the last 200 years. It comes as security remains a top concern in areas affected by extortion, drug trafficking, cartels and armed groups, even as much of the country has prospered since the landmark peace accord with the FARC guerrillas a decade ago.