Trump-backed populist wins tight Colombia presidential vote, sparking protests
World
Trump-backed populist wins tight Colombia presidential vote, sparking protests
Updated on: June 22, 2026 / 6:19 AM EDT / CBS/AFP
Add CBS News on GoogleBarranquilla, Colombia — A flamboyant U.S.-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia's polarizing presidential runoff Sunday, swinging the country hard right and sparking violent protests.
With almost all the ballots counted, Abelardo de la Espriella held 49.66% of the vote versus left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda's 48.70%.
The 47-year-old's slender win triggered demonstrations, but will ease ties with Washington and extend a regional right-wing wave centered on "iron fist" security policies.
"We are beginning a new era!" he 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!" he said, echoing his vow to wage war against drug-running guerrilla groups.
President Trump cheered the result, exclaiming "He Won, BIG!" as a host of right-wing leaders from across the Americas clamored to offer congratulations and support.
But after a campaign marred by guerrilla bomb attacks and the murder of a leading conservative presidential candidate, there was a quick sign of how tough it will be for De la Espriella to unite this deeply divided nation.
As night fell, thousands of protesters gathered in Colombia's largest cities.
In Cali, some burned American flags as others wielded steel bars and clashed with riot police, who tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas.
There was also unrest in the capital Bogota, where demonstrators burned tires and hurled 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.
But elsewhere, there was elation.
De la Espriella supporters poured onto the streets of several cities wearing the canary-yellow national football jersey he'd adopted as a campaign uniform.
They waved flags, blew horns and expressed hope that "The Tiger," as they call him, would bring security.
"I'm very happy," said 30-year-old supporter Daniela Oliveros in Barranquilla. "I believe a lot in the country, I believe a lot in freedom."
"Abelardo, at this moment, is giving us above all a sense of security, employment, and dignity," she said.
De la Espriella strikes reassuring tone
With only a few hundred thousand votes separating the two candidates, De la Espriella used his victory speech to try to calm his critics.
"Mine will be an absolutely democratic government and a guarantor of freedom and institutional order," he said, vowing to respect all races, religions and political stripes.
"I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who choose another candidate," he added.
His win marks a return to power for Colombia's right wing, which has ruled for all but four of the last 200 years. It is likely to test Colombia's fragile decade-old peace process.
During the campaign, the dual U.S.-Colombian national told AFP he would scrap peace talks with dissident groups and launch a 90-day campaign of U.S.-backed airstrikes against them.
In the 10 years since a landmark peace accord was signed with FARC guerrillas, much of Colombia has prospered.
But cartels and dissident groups still control pockets of the country, cocaine exports are at an all-time high and Colombia remains one of the world's most economically unequal countries.
"Colombia's best days are ahead," said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adding that Washington "looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration."
Cepeda holding back on concession
His opponent, Cepeda, a 63-year-old leftist senator, stopped short of conceding defeat.
"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.
For Cepeda to win, hundreds of thousands of votes would need to be overturned in a final count. The margin of error for the first count is usually in the low thousands.
More than 26 million people cast ballots, or 63% of registered voters, and the difference between De la Espriella and Cepeda was a mere 247,000, The Wall Street Journal notes. Colombia's population is 53 million.
No recount has ever overturned the results of any presidential election in Colombia, the Associated Press points out.
De la Espriella warned Cepeda to respect the vote, form the opposition and not to "even think about stoking violence."
"The Tiger can still bite you harder than he has bitten you at the ballot box," he warned.
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.'
