Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombia's presidential runoff election

Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer and political outsider, won the Colombian presidential runoff held on Sunday. With 99.9% of the votes counted, de la Espriella secured 49.6% against 48.7% for his opponent, leftist senator Ivan Cepeda, a difference of approximately 250,000 votes. The president-elect, known for his right-wing platform and public support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, campaigned on a promise of a 'new era' and a hardline approach against drug-trafficking armed groups. He addressed supporters in Barranquilla while protected by bulletproof glass, vowing to pursue criminals within the framework of the constitution. The inauguration is scheduled for August 7. His victory marks a potential shift toward the right for the country, which has faced a recent resurgence in violence and internal armed conflict. The transition follows a political campaign against the incumbent left-leaning administration of Gustavo Petro.