A flamboyant US-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia’s presidential run-off Sunday, swinging the country hard right with a promise to wage war against drug-running guerrilla groups.
With almost all polling centres reporting, Abelardo de la Espriella won 49.66 per cent of the vote versus left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda’s 48.70 per cent.
The 47-year-old’s victory was set to improve strained relations with Washington and extend a wave of rightist candidates who have swept to power across Latin America promising “iron fist” security policies.
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“We are beginning a new era!” he told supporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla from behind bulletproof glass.
“For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up!” he said.
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US President Donald Trump and a host of right-wing leaders from across the Americas have clamoured to offer congratulations and support.