BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) 鈥� Eccentric, ostentatious and artistic, is also a political neophyte who is poised to become Colombia鈥檚 next president after leaning into everything that makes him different from the conventional politician to win people鈥檚 support.
The businessman and lawyer, whose ventures include a clothing line, wine and rum brands, and a restaurant, earned endorsement despite never having run for office and on Monday led the presidential runoff race by 1 percentage point, or nearly 251,000 votes, with all but a fraction of the votes counted.
De la Espriella鈥檚 victory, which electoral authorities are expected to declare this week, will add to a that have turned to political outsiders in search for solutions to complex social, security and economic challenges.
The self-proclaimed representative of 鈥渢he never-before-seen鈥� promised voters fearful of to combat violent crime with an iron fist, pledging a strategy that includes ending outgoing President Gustavo Petro鈥檚 attempts 鈥� an effort that has largely failed 鈥� and building mega-prisons, emulating those of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Progressive candidate Iv谩n Cepeda, Petro鈥檚 prot茅g茅, is challenging the results.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like either of them, but I鈥檓 terrified of continuity,鈥� retiree Mar铆a del Rosario Villaveces, 66, said after voting Sunday in the capital, Bogota.
Villaveces, 66, added she is concerned that de la Espriella 鈥渉as no idea about politics,鈥� but she said that his running mate, former finance minister Jos茅 Manuel Restrepo, gives her 鈥渁 little peace of mind鈥� because 鈥渉e does know (politics) and is well organized.鈥�
Petro is as much a candidate as Cepeda and de la Espriella
More than 26 million people voted in the runoff. Of those, over 426,000 people chose a third, no-name option on the ballot that allows voters to express dislike of both candidates. About 29,000 people cast blank ballots.
Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said most voters do not perceive lack of political experience as a risk even though plenty of outsiders have failed to get much done.
鈥淭hey wanted a candidate who would decisively break with Petro and the left,鈥� he said. 鈥淧art of the country was voting as much against Petro and the left as for de la Espriella, associating the left with erosion of security, economic stagnation, etc., whether or not that鈥檚 fair.鈥�
De la Espriella, nicknamed 鈥淭he Tiger,鈥� told thousands of supporters that he will 鈥済overn for all Colombians.鈥� But as he spoke behind a bulletproof glass Sunday night, he also echoed the frustration of many eager to see the end of Petro’s presidency.
鈥淧ack your bags and prepare to become the opposition,鈥� he told Petro’s camp. 鈥淢ake no mistake, Mr. Cepeda. You already know how fiercely the tiger roars.鈥�
Cepeda on Monday responded to the remarks, warning de la Espriella against threats, veiled or otherwise.
鈥淒on鈥檛 come threatening us,” Cepeda said in the capital, Bogota. “Neither your roars nor your screams frighten us.鈥�
He also asked supporters to remain calm and maintain 鈥渆xemplary behavior.鈥� Hours earlier, people in the western city of Cali took to the streets, damaging a public bus, several surveillance cameras and an ATM.
Voters expect security improvements
Sunday鈥檚 winner will begin a four-year term Aug. 7.
The candidates pitched voters widely different strategies to prevent the South American country from the nonstop violence, such as car bombs, kidnappings, disappearances and forced displacements, that Colombians lived with in previous decades.
Yolanda Hern谩ndez, who recycles trash for a living, voted for Petro in 2022 but cast her ballot for de la Espriella this time. While she acknowledged that Petro was unable to deliver on promises meant to help the poor because of congressional gridlock, she said Colombia cannot afford another four years under his vision for the country.
鈥淲e want change in Colombia because it鈥檚 always the same violence, always the same thing,鈥� Hern谩ndez, 49, said. 鈥�(Petro) said he was going to lower the cost of services, that he was going to lower the price of food, and everything is more expensive.鈥�
Last year, authorities recorded 14,780 homicides, the most since at least 2015, driven by clashes among illegal armed groups. Among those killed was . Colombia鈥檚 illegal groups have more than 27,000 members.
De la Espriella, 47, pitched to crime-fighting, including drug trafficking, with tactics that draw from Bukele’s playbook. Those tactics have lowered homicide rates in the Central American country but have fueled accusations of human rights abuses.
De la Espriella joins list with Milei and Noboa
De la Espriella managed to defeat more experienced conservative politicians in May’s first-round vote, including Sen. Paloma Valencia, who represented the party of the influential . For Yann Basset, a professor of Political Science at the University of Rosario, De la Espriella’s feat marks a 鈥� 鈥�
鈥淭here is perhaps a weariness among political figures that contributes to the success of this outsider populism against the political class,鈥� Basset said.
In Latin America, several presidents have achieved electoral victories with little political experience.
In Argentina, , a television commentator, formed a party, rose to fame and served as a congressman shortly before becoming president. In Ecuador, , an heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, entered a snap election with only months of experience as a National Assembly member and won.
De la Espriella holds dual Colombian and U.S. citizenship. He鈥檚 a Trump supporter and a member of the Republican Party.
鈥淐ongratulations to 鈥淓l Tigre鈥� (THE TIGER!) Abelardo de la Espriella, the new President of Colombia!” Trump said Monday on Truth Social. 鈥淚t was my Great Honor to endorse him, and I look forward to working together to build a powerful relationship between Colombia and the United States of America, which will bring new levels of Greatness for both of our Countries!鈥�
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