Colombia appears set for a major political shift after early vote counts showed conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella leading the country’s presidential election, a result that would mark the end of the country’s first left-wing presidency under Gustavo Petro.
Read more Sports
While official results have not yet been certified, early returns show de la Espriella ahead by roughly 250,000 votes. Final election results are expected to be announced Tuesday.
If the results hold, Colombia would join a growing list of Latin American countries that have recently elected conservative governments, including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama, signaling a broader reversal of the region’s so-called “Pink Tide” that brought several leftist leaders to power over the past two decades.
De la Espriella, a naturalized U.S. citizen who previously lived in Miami, campaigned on promises to crack down on drug trafficking, reduce business regulations, lower taxes and revive oil and gas projects that were halted during Petro’s administration.
His apparent victory comes as Colombia continues to grapple with persistent economic and security challenges.
“It’s been a pendular shift of bad governments that are unable to resolve issues,” said Florida International University political science professor Eduardo Gamarra, who traveled to Colombia to serve as an international electoral observer. “They are replaced by the promise of a new government and the possibility that the new government might solve long-term recurring problems.”
Gamarra said Colombia remains one of the most politically polarized countries in Latin America, with voters increasingly frustrated by economic hardships, insecurity and government performance.
The election also drew attention because of the unusually public role played by U.S. political figures.
Read more Structural damage began weeks before Surfside condo collapse, investigators say
President Donald Trump endorsed de la Espriella during the campaign, and several South Florida politicians also voiced support for the conservative candidate.
“It’s not the first time that Americans have intervened in elections directly,” Gamarra said. “But it is the first time in which we’ve actually campaigned for a presidential candidate.”
Historically, the United States has often had preferred political allies in Latin America, but public endorsements of presidential candidates have been far less common. Critics argue such endorsements could be viewed as direct political intervention.
Even if elected, Gamarra cautioned that de la Espriella will inherit many of the same challenges that plagued Petro’s administration.
Among them are Colombia’s status as the world’s largest cocaine producer, widespread insecurity and significant economic pressures facing millions of Colombians.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Gamarra said. “The same things that plagued Petro are going to plague de la Espriella.”
If confirmed, Colombia’s election would further reshape the political landscape in Latin America. Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay and Nicaragua would remain among the region’s few major countries still led by left-leaning governments.
Read more At least five people arrested in alleged tampering of Reflecting Pool, official says