Nationalist lawyer, Abelardo De La Espriella, has won Colombia’s presidential runoff election, marking a dramatic rise for the 47-year-old politician who campaigned on promises to restore security, strengthen the economy and confront armed groups through military action rather than dialogue.
The victory represents a major political shift in Colombia, where voters were heavily influenced by concerns over crime, drug trafficking, economic challenges and the country’s approach to dealing with illegal armed organisations.
De La Espriella secured support with pledges to reduce government size, expand the tax base, revive oil exploration and replace negotiations with armed groups with a more aggressive security strategy.
According to Reuters, De La Espriella defeated left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda in Sunday’s runoff election, receiving 49.66% of the vote compared with Cepeda’s 48.7%, based on preliminary figures from the national registrar. He had already emerged as the frontrunner in the first round in late May, taking 43.7% of the vote after building momentum with a strong law-and-order campaign.
Known among supporters as “The Tiger,” De La Espriella presented himself as a political outsider capable of rebuilding Colombia’s struggling economy and restoring stability in a country facing challenges from criminal networks and drug trafficking. He has repeatedly blamed outgoing President Gustavo Petro for worsening economic and security conditions.
Reuters reported that De La Espriella intends to cut the size of the state by 40%, expand the tax base and abandon peace negotiations with armed groups in favour of a stronger military approach. He has also promised to restart oil exploration and permit fracking as part of a plan to nearly double national production to 1.3 million barrels per day.
The president-elect has said he personally funded his campaign and that his “Defenders of the Homeland” movement expanded without backing from political parties or major business interests. Reuters reported that it was unable to independently confirm those claims.
Beyond politics, De La Espriella has developed a broad business portfolio involving wine, rum, clothing and real estate ventures. Investigative outlet La Silla Vacia reported that several of his companies had been dissolved, were facing debt issues or recorded overall losses in 2024, while his law firm remained his most successful business operation.
The publication stated that De La Espriella’s campaign declined to respond to questions regarding his business activities. The campaign later criticised La Silla Vacia’s funding in an open letter, while the outlet rejected claims that its reporting was politically motivated.
During the campaign, De La Espriella frequently adopted a military-style salute despite having no history of serving in the armed forces.
His public image, which includes luxury watches, designer sunglasses and a carefully maintained beard, has led to comparisons with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who describes himself as the “world’s coolest dictator”.
Bukele’s aggressive security policies and the creation of large-scale prisons have contributed to a sharp decline in crime rates in El Salvador, though the measures have faced criticism from human rights organisations. More than 90,000 people have reportedly been detained under the approach.
De La Espriella has rejected suggestions that he is copying Bukele’s model, but he has proposed constructing 10 mega-prisons in Colombia as part of his security agenda.
The incoming president has also faced scrutiny over his legal career, including his representation of Alex Saab, who is accused in the United States of money laundering linked to former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He has also represented figures connected to corruption cases, financial crimes and right-wing paramilitary groups. De La Espriella maintains that defending clients as a lawyer does not amount to involvement in their alleged crimes.
A father of four, De La Espriella was raised in Monteria, a Caribbean city in Colombia, and is also recognised as a singer of vallenato, the region’s traditional folk music. Reuters reported that he holds Colombian, US and Italian citizenships and is scheduled to take office as president on August 7.
