Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia’s presidential election, securing 49.7 percent of the vote in a tightly contested runoff against leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda.
The result, confirmed on Sunday, marks a decisive turn toward the right for the South American nation after four years of left-wing governance under Gustavo Petro.
De la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer and millionaire who entered the race as an outsider, celebrated his victory on the evening of June 21, declaring he would be "the president of all Colombians."
The election saw record voter turnout, underscoring the high stakes of the contest.
De la Espriella’s narrow edge over Cepeda reflects a electorate seeking a break from the previous administration’s policies.
As a political outsider, the new president-elect brings a different profile to the presidency, potentially altering the country’s domestic and foreign policy trajectory.
Markets are likely to assess the implications of the shift in political leadership.