Iván Cepeda, a progressive candidate, conceded Colombia’s presidential election to Abelardo de la Espriella on Wednesday. De la Espriella, a conservative outsider endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump, emerged victorious.
Election results indicated that De la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer with no prior political experience, defeated Cepeda by a margin of 1 percentage point. This equated to nearly 251,000 votes.
“We assume with serenity, responsibility, and absolute resolve — and let there be no doubt about it — the role that circumstances demand of us,” Cepeda addressed the nation. “We will exercise a democratic, vigilant and constructive opposition.”
The election outcome was seen as a critique of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s administration. Cepeda had committed to continuing Petro’s efforts, including a largely unsuccessful initiative to establish dialogue with various armed groups, known as “total peace.”
Electoral authorities published the nearly complete vote count hours after polls closed on Sunday. However, President Petro and Cepeda did not initially accept the results, with Cepeda stating he wanted to wait for a recount.