Gustavo Petro

Colombia’s president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the transition process after President Gustavo Petro refused to recognize the election results, alleging fraud without evidence. Petro accused de la Espriella of winning through fraud in the June 21 presidential run-off against Petro coalition candidate Ivan Cepeda.

Colombia’s President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the transition process with outgoing President Gustavo Petro after Petro refused to recognize de la Espriella’s electoral victory, alleging fraud. De la Espriella accused Petro’s administration of corruption and destructive policies, while Petro’s transition team emphasized transparency. The election result, which saw de la Espriella defeat Iván Cepeda by 1 percentage point, was described as a rejection of Petro’s government by international observers.

Colombia's August 2026 election saw right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly defeat leftist Senator Iván Cepeda, ending the first left-wing presidency under Gustavo Petro. The result reflects a divided nation grappling with unresolved social, economic, and security challenges, as voters chose between de la Espriella's hardline security approach and Cepeda's push for continued peace negotiations with insurgent groups and criminal cartels.

Colombia’s 2026 minimum wage increased by 23.7% to 1,750,905 pesos monthly. Digital-nomad visas now require three times this wage (~$1,400/month), while pension and rentista visas demand ten times the wage. The changes make residency visas more difficult to obtain.

Colombia's outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, rejects the legitimacy of Abelardo de la Espriella's election win, alleging fraud without evidence, despite official and international validation.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro spoke with Donald Trump in a phone call, requesting the removal of OFAC sanctions on him and his family. Trump stated he would do his best to review the case, while the White House did not confirm the conversation.

Colombian Senator Iván Cepeda, who lost the presidential election, threatened civil disobedience if Abelardo de la Espriella, the winner, does not renounce his U.S. citizenship and address claims of U.S. ties. Cepeda accused de la Espriella of being an 'agent' of the U.S. due to his defense of a paramilitary leader linked to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and demanded he halt efforts to extradite outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

Colombia, under Gustavo Petro, became a leader in advocating for a fossil-fuel transition, halting new expansion and hosting the Santa Marta process. A recent election defeat for Petro's ally shifted power to Abelardo de la Espriella, who supports increasing oil production and fracking. This outcome raises questions about Colombia's future fossil-fuel policies and international climate efforts, including COP31.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative businessman endorsed by Donald Trump, won Colombia’s presidential runoff election by defeating Iván Cepeda by 1 percentage point. The result marked a rejection of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies, including efforts to establish dialogue with armed groups.

Conservative businessman Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump, won Colombia’s presidential runoff election against progressive candidate Iván Cepeda by 1 percentage point, marking a shift from outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. Cepeda conceded after a recount confirmed de la Espriella’s victory, which reflects voter dissatisfaction with Petro’s 'total peace' initiatives and economic challenges.

Colombian President-elect Abelardo De la Espriella plans to restore relations with Israel, confirmed during a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who praised him as a 'true friend of the Jewish people.' De la Espriella also aims to join Trump's 'Shield of the Americas' coalition, reversing previous policies under President Gustavo Petro, who ended a free trade agreement with Israel.

Progressive candidate Iván Cepeda conceded Colombia’s presidential election to Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative businessman endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump. De la Espriella won by 1 percentage point, marking a rejection of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies, including the 'total peace' initiative. De la Espriella, a Trump supporter and Republican Party member, plans to adopt strict crime-fighting strategies similar to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s approach.

Progressive candidate Iván Cepeda conceded Colombia’s presidential election to Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative businessman endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump. De la Espriella won by 1 percentage point, marking an indictment of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s government and its 'total peace' policy.

EU observers confirmed the transparency of Colombia's presidential election vote count, despite President Gustavo Petro and his protégé Iván Cepeda challenging the results. The runoff election, with over 26 million voters, showed Abelardo de la Espriella leading by 1 percentage point.

Colombia's president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced the country will join the US-led 'Shield of the Americas' initiative on August 7. He stated Colombia will actively combat narcoterrorism, replacing what he described as a previous government's complacency.

President Gustavo Petro accuses Israel of meddling in Colombia's presidential election through digital manipulation, but the attorney general has dismissed these allegations. The claims involve digital manipulation affecting election results, with conflicting statements from political figures and legal authorities.

President Donald Trump congratulated conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella on leading the Colombian election with 49.7% of votes, while leftist Ivan Cepeda challenged the results citing irregularities. De la Espriella, known as 'El Tigre,' has not yet been officially certified as winner.

Colombia's left-wing political figures express fear over Abelardo De la Espriella's claimed victory in the presidential runoff election, with rival candidate Iván Cepeda refusing to concede. De la Espriella, who supports oil exploration and fracking, faces criticism from environmentalists, while Cepeda and President Gustavo Petro remain skeptical of his projected win.

Venezuelan migrant workers in Colombia expressed relief following Abelardo De la Espriella's narrow presidential victory, fearing constitutional reforms under Gustavo Petro's administration could mirror Venezuela's past political instability. Fernando Bermudez, a Bogotá-based Uber driver and Venezuelan migrant, linked Petro's policies to Hugo Chávez's 1999 constitutional changes, which he described as traumatic. Over 2.84 million Venezuelans live in Colombia, with many in Bogotá navigating informal economies and lingering discrimination.

Colombia elected Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old hardliner and millionaire lawyer, as the country’s next president. De la Espriella received majority votes and support from right-wingers in the US, but his ability to govern remains uncertain due to his outsider status.

Colombians in the U.S. voted overwhelmingly for Abelardo De La Espriella in the presidential runoff election, with 80.57% of ballots cast in the country for him compared to 18.43% for Iván Cepeda. Preliminary results showed De La Espriella leading nationwide with 49.66% of votes, while Cepeda received 48.7%. Voting occurred in over 250 diaspora precincts, including locations in South Florida.

Colombia's national registrar confirmed the accuracy of the preliminary vote count in the presidential runoff election, showing Abelardo De La Espriella leading Iván Cepeda by 250,830 votes. De La Espriella received 49.66% of votes (12,959,542) compared to Cepeda's 48.7% (12,708,712), with 99.99% of polling stations reporting. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed De La Espriella, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro supported Cepeda.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right populist endorsed by Donald Trump, won Colombia’s presidential runoff with a narrow lead over Iván Cepeda, marking a political shift from Petro’s left-wing government. Preliminary results showed de la Espriella at 49.7% and Cepeda at 48.7%, with the official scrutiny process ongoing and Cepeda vowing to challenge the results.

A polarized Colombia sees conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella lead in a runoff election with 49.7% of votes against progressive candidate Ivn Cepeda's 48.7%. De la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, faces challenges to the results, with Cepeda vowing to contest outcomes from over 30,000 voting stations.

Donald Trump congratulated newly elected Colombian leader Abelardo De la Espriella, nicknamed 'El Tigre,' following a close election where De la Espriella secured 49.66% of the vote against Iván Cepeda's 48.7%. Current President Gustavo Petro and Cepeda have not yet recognized the preliminary results, pending official confirmation from electoral authorities.

Right-wing criminal lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia's presidency in a preliminary count with 49.66% of the vote, defeating left-wing senator Iván Cepeda (48.70%). The governing-coalition candidate challenged the result, disputing 33,000 polling tables, while President Gustavo Petro stated neither candidate could proclaim victory until the definitive tally.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-endorsed conservative candidate, holds a slim lead in Colombia's presidential runoff against progressive rival Iván Cepeda. Cepeda has challenged the unofficial results, vowing to contest votes from over 30,000 stations. De la Espriella's potential victory could reverse outgoing President Gustavo Petro's policies, including peace negotiations with armed groups.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-endorsed conservative candidate, holds a slim lead in Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.7% of votes, while progressive candidate Iván Cepeda challenges the results, claiming unofficial counts. De la Espriella's potential victory could reverse outgoing President Gustavo Petro's policies, including peace negotiations with armed groups.

Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, holds a slim lead in Colombia's presidential runoff against Iván Cepeda. Cepeda, a progressive candidate, has challenged the unofficial results, vowing to contest votes from over 30,000 stations.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-endorsed conservative candidate, holds a narrow lead in Colombia's presidential runoff against progressive Iván Cepeda, with Cepeda challenging the results. De la Espriella's potential victory could reverse outgoing President Gustavo Petro's policies, while Cepeda vows to defend social reforms.

Abelardo De la Espriella won Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.66% of votes, according to preliminary results. U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated him, while President Gustavo Petro and candidate Iván Cepeda disputed the results. De la Espriella is set to be sworn in on August 7 after electoral authorities finalize the outcome.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-backed political outsider, leads Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.7% of votes, while his rival Iván Cepeda challenges the results, alleging irregularities in over 30,000 voting stations. The tight race highlights concerns over renewed internal conflict and differing approaches to crime and peace negotiations.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-backed political outsider, holds a narrow lead in Colombia's presidential election with 49.7% of votes, while his rival Iván Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, earned 48.7%. Cepeda has challenged results from over 30,000 voting stations, and Petro also vowed to contest the outcome. De la Espriella's policies focus on a tough-on-crime approach, including drug trafficking and prison expansion.

Iván Cepeda, a Colombian presidential candidate, criticized the preliminary vote count as 'not official or binding' and pledged to challenge it. Preliminary results show Cepeda with 48.7% and his opponent Abelardo de la Espriella with 49.66%, with both candidates and President Gustavo Petro disputing the outcome. De la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, declared victory, while Petro emphasized the need for judicial scrutiny.

Right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella won 49.66% of the votes in Colombia's election. Outgoing President Gustavo Petro stated neither candidate can be declared president.

Abelardo de la Espriella holds a narrow lead in Colombia's presidential election runoff with 49.7% of votes, while Iván Cepeda, a progressive candidate, trails with 48.7%. Cepeda plans to challenge results from over 30,000 voting stations, and outgoing President Gustavo Petro has also expressed doubts about the outcome.

Colombia’s voters elected right-wing businessman Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, in a presidential runoff, ending left-wing rule. De la Espriella proposed bombing gang-held areas and building El Salvador-style megaprisons, while his opponent, senator Iván Cepeda, supported continuing peace negotiations. Latin America has seen a rightward shift as governments address violence linked to cocaine production, with Mexico under Washington pressure adopting military tactics against cartels.

Colombian voters in South Florida cast ballots for their next president in a runoff election between Abelardo de la Espriella and Ivan Cepeda. The candidates differ on addressing Colombia's armed conflict, with de la Espriella opposing President Gustavo Petro’s Total Peace Plan and advocating for military confrontation.

Colombians voted in a presidential runoff election between left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda and right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella. With 98.2% of precincts counted, de la Espriella led with 49.77% of the votes, while Cepeda had 48.59%. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed de la Espriella, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro endorsed Cepeda.

Colombians voted in a presidential runoff between left-wing Iván Cepeda and right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella, with 49.65% for De la Espriella and 48.7% for Cepeda according to preliminary counts. U.S. President Donald Trump and Rep. Carlos Giménez endorsed De la Espriella, while President Gustavo Petro supported Cepeda. Voting included over 250 diaspora precincts, with notable locations in South Florida.