In Colombia’s June 21 presidential runoff, right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, nicknamed ‘El Tigre,’ holds a slim lead over leftist senator Iván Cepeda at 49.66% to 48.70% after 99.99% of tables reported.
The Trump-endorsed novice promises tough crime measures like mega-prisons, contrasting Cepeda’s ties to outgoing President Gustavo Petro, amid a polarized race fueled by violence and economic challenges.
While supporters celebrated in the streets and U.S. officials congratulated him, Petro called for a recount over alleged irregularities, though monitors praised the hand-counted process as orderly and transparent.
Gustavo Petro: “data on the pre-count, counted by population. Abelardo 49.3 and Cepeda 49.
“We’re heading to the scrutiny. With the same data from the registry office, the pre-count result at this moment is 49.3 for Abelardo and 49 for Cepeda. Neither can be proclaimed president.
“It is the scrutiny that determines who is the president. I obey the judges. Calm among the citizenry, please. Reality gives us a country split down the middle, and foreign interference taking away our freedom.
“As of today, there is no elected president until the electoral commissions deliver their results. As I said this morning, I will accept the result that the judges declare because that is what the law orders. I will invite the entire people of Colombia to accept that result.
“But the law states that the result is established by the scrutiny. I invite the population wielding bats and weapons not to do so, and the population manifesting in our support to wait with tranquility. This is the moment for wisdom.
“I heard Abelardo’s speech; if he emerges as president from the scrutiny, he should recognize that half of the Colombian population did not agree with him, so it is time, therefore, for reconciliation, or else the Homeland will be lost to violence.
“It remains an opportunity nonetheless, and if he wins officially, the handover process will be ready. As I said before, I will not last a single second beyond the mandate that the people gave me.”
