Colombia Election Challenge
Trump-backed de la Espriella holds narrow lead in Colombia election as Cepeda challenges results
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Colombia is on the edge of a constitutional crisis. With 99.8% of votes counted, Trump-backed candidate Abelardo de la Espriella leads Senator Iván Cepeda by just 24,305 votes — a margin of 0.12% — according to RegistradurÃa Nacional. De la Espriella declared himself
Cepeda refused to concede, alleging "computational anomalies" in the departments of Chocó and Nariño. He claims over 150,000 null votes were disqualified in his strongholds "without explanation." Protests erupted in Bogotá's Plaza de BolÃvar by early morning on June 22, CNN en Español reported. The National Electoral Council (CNE) is set to meet at 14:00 local time to rule on a possible recount.
A Razor-Thin Result That Neither Side Accepts
De la Espriella, a high-profile trial lawyer, ran on a "MAGA-style" platform he calls "Patria Nueva" — or New Homeland. He won 10,842,510 votes, or 50.06%, against Cepeda's 10,818,205, or 49.94%, per RegistradurÃa Nacional. Former U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed him in January, calling him a "warrior for freedom" on Truth Social. On election night, Trump posted again: "Big win for Abelardo! The radical left is trying to rig it, but we are watching closely."
The result stunned pollsters. The final Invamer survey, published June 15, showed Cepeda leading by 2%. That gap suggests either a major late surge for de la Espriella or a significant polling failure. An additional 185,000 blank or null ballots — roughly 0.8% of all votes cast — hang over the final tally and sit at the heart of Cepeda's legal challenge.
Cepeda's Fraud Claims Put Colombia's Courts to the Test
At a press conference late on June 21, Cepeda said: "There are over 150,000 null votes in our strongholds that were disqualified without explanation. We demand a vote-by-vote recount. Our democracy is at stake." W Radio covered the address live. His "Pacto por la Paz" coalition has threatened national strikes and a "total standstill" if the CNE denies a full recount, according to El Espectador.
National Registrar Hernán Penagos pushed back. He said on Caracol Televisión: "The system is robust. We invite all candidates to use the legal channels for challenges rather than inciting public disorder." The Organization of American States observed the vote. It found "minor irregularities" but said there is no evidence of "systemic fraud" yet, per an OAS official statement.
Markets Rattled as Colombia Enters Uncharted Political Waters
Investors did not wait for the CNE ruling. The Colombian Peso fell 3.8% against the dollar in early trading on June 22, Bloomberg reported, as fears of prolonged unrest grew. De la Espriella's platform includes privatizing state oil giant Ecopetrol — a move markets favor but one that would likely trigger massive union-led strikes, adding another layer of economic risk.
Political scientist Dr. Sandra Borda put it bluntly on Blu Radio: "Colombia is entering uncharted territory. Unlike 2022, we now have a candidate who has preemptively delegitimized the electoral authority, following the Trumpian playbook. This makes a peaceful resolution much harder." The last time Colombia faced a disputed election of this scale was 1970. Historians note that crisis eventually gave rise to the M-19 guerrilla movement, per BBC News.
What a De la Espriella Win Means for the United States
A confirmed de la Espriella victory would reshape U.S.-Colombia ties. His "security-first" approach would likely restore close cooperation on drug trafficking, a priority for the Trump administration. A Cepeda win, by contrast, would continue the friction seen under President Gustavo Petro over environmental and agrarian policy, according to The New York Times.
De la Espriella launched his campaign in Miami in October 2025, promising a "Bukele-style" security overhaul — a reference to El Salvador's strongman president. His rise mirrors a broader rightward shift across Latin America, including Javier Milei's win in Argentina, Foreign Policy Magazine noted. Whether he formally takes power now depends on what Colombia's electoral judges decide later today.
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