Leftists Riot in Colombia After Election of Abelardo de la Espriella
Deadly Leftist Riots Erupt in Colombia After Election of Abelardo de la Espriella
Colombian leftists rioted and attempted to block the streets of Bogotá and other cities on Sunday to protest the election of conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella as the next president of Colombia.
At least one person was shot dead during the riots that took place in the city of Cali. Authorities are still investigating the death at press time.
Colombia held its highly anticipated 2026 presidential runoff election on Sunday, June 21, in which President-elect de la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer and businessman, defeated far-left Senator Iván Cepeda. The Organization of American States (OAS), highlighted the election as a peaceful, orderly, and transparent one — saluting Colombia’s electoral authorities for their professional labor throughout the election and for their timely vote count.
Leonel Fernández, former president of the Dominican Republic and head of the OAS’s electoral observer mission to Colombia, told reporters on Sunday that the election occurred without any instances of alteration of the public order and that the OAS representatives observed the free participation of the Colombian electorate in the process.
Despite Sunday’s runoff election highly marked as a peaceful and free election, several groups of Colombian leftists rioted over the victory of conservative President-elect de la Espriella.
The Colombian newspaper El Espectador reported that as soon as de la Espriella’s victory was announced on Sunday night, individuals began rioting across several blocks in southwestern and central Bogotá.
Hooded rioters reportedly erected barricades using burned tires, a motorcycle, and piles of trash. Residents of Bogotá’s Chicalá neighborhood denounced damages to windows and private vehicles caused by stones and other projectile objects during clashes between the rioters and local law enforcement. The use of force against the rioters was reportedly authorized after the protesters physically assaulted a member of Bogotá’s District Dialogue Team — officials in the Colombian capital city tasked with mediating in social conflicts. In the Bogotá districts of Usme and Kennedy, the protesters directly assaulted police facilities.
Mayor of Bogotá Carlos Fernando Galán detailed to local outlets on Monday that three adults and two children were detained for attempting to assault a police station in Usme.
El Espectador noted that the riots caused disruptions to public transportation affecting some 183,000 users. The protests also forced the administration of Colombia’s National University to suspend in-person activities on Monday. The local radio station Alerta Bogotá published footage of Colombian users having no choice but to walk as a result of the disruption of public transportation.
The city of Cali also saw incidents of rioters in response to de la Espriella’s electoral victory. El Espectador detailed that the riots in Cali left damage to public and private infrastructure and at least one dead.
Cali’s police force confirmed to the Colombian magazine Semana on Sunday night that the male victim was riding a motorcycle when he was shot by unknown assailants, who then fled in an unknown direction. The circumstances surrounding the man’s death are still under investigation by local authorities.
“Unfortunately, in the late afternoon hours, there was a large gathering in the Puerto Rellena area, where some people — some troublemakers — began clashing with law enforcement and attempted to vandalize public property,” Mayor of Cali Alejandro Éder said on Sunday.
“In the process, they damaged about 15 traffic cameras in the city of Cali and knocked down three of them, but we managed to contain the situation and keep them confined to that same area, thereby protecting Cali,” he continued.
Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s runoff election and the protests, Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez and the director of Colombia’s National Police, William Rincón, informed that about 250 individuals participated in the Cali protests.
“We already have our team on the ground to prevent any kind of disruption and to stop these incidents from continuing, incidents that only cause damage and, of course, anxiety in the community,” Rincón reportedly said.
Minister Sánchez, for his part, stressed that the priority of Colombia’s law enforcement is to preserve the peace in the locations where protests were reported, and called upon Colombian citizens to act with respect.
President-elect de la Espriella is set to take office on August 7, 2026, succeeding outgoing Marxist President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president ever. De la Espriella’s election as president marks a return of a conservative-led government in Colombia following four years of leftist rule under Petro.
At press time, Petro has refused to publicly recognize the results of Sunday’s election and has instead accused Israel of having “compromised” the voting software used for the election.
Christian K. Caruzo is a Venezuelan writer and documents life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
