Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella celebrated after preliminary election results showed him holding a narrow lead in the country's closely contested presidential race.
Supporters gathered in large numbers as early vote counts indicated that the conservative candidate was ahead of his rival, left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda. The preliminary results showed De La Espriella securing nearly half of the votes cast, putting him in a strong position to claim victory once the final count is completed.
Speaking to supporters, De La Espriella promised to govern for all Colombians and called for unity following a highly polarized campaign. His campaign focused heavily on improving security, fighting crime, strengthening the economy, and increasing investment in the country's oil and gas sector.
The election has attracted international attention, with former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsing De La Espriella during the campaign. Trump later congratulated him after the preliminary results showed him in the lead.
Despite the celebrations, election officials still need to complete the official verification process. Cepeda's campaign has challenged results from thousands of ballot boxes and has called for a detailed review before the outcome is formally confirmed.
If confirmed, De La Espriella's victory would mark a significant political shift in Colombia and continue a broader trend of conservative gains across parts of Latin America. He is expected to face major challenges, including economic pressures, security concerns, and working with a divided Congress.
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