BOGOTA, Colombia (AP/VINnews) — Conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella appeared headed for victory Sunday in Colombia’s presidential runoff election, narrowly defeating left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda in a closely contested race that could dramatically reshape the country’s domestic and foreign policies.

With nearly all ballots counted, de la Espriella held a slim lead of roughly one percentage point. While election officials had not yet formally declared a winner, the result sparked celebrations among supporters who view the vote as a rejection of outgoing President Gustavo Petro and his progressive agenda.

Great news from South America: Warm congratulations to President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, @ABDELAESPRIELLA, on his victory.

As Colombia begins this new chapter, may it strengthen the bonds between our peoples and create new opportunities for cooperation, prosperity, and… pic.twitter.com/xs4tmkkUBT

— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) June 21, 2026

The 47-year-old lawyer and businessman, known throughout Colombia as “El Tigre” (The Tiger), ran on a law-and-order platform promising an aggressive crackdown on drug cartels, guerrilla groups and violent crime. He has pledged to end Petro’s controversial negotiations with armed groups, build massive prisons and restore security in a nation that has seen violence surge in recent years.

De la Espriella’s victory would mark one of the most significant political shifts in modern Colombian history, moving the country sharply to the right after four years under Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president. The election was widely viewed as a referendum on Petro’s policies as homicides, extortion cases and public concerns over security continued to rise.

The president-elect built his campaign around themes familiar to supporters of President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Trump publicly endorsed de la Espriella during the campaign, praising him as a strong leader and urging Colombians to support his candidacy.

Beyond security and economic issues, de la Espriella has attracted attention for his strong support of Israel and his criticism of Petro’s increasingly hostile relationship with the Jewish state.

Under Petro, relations between Colombia and Israel deteriorated significantly amid disputes over Israel’s war against Hamas. Petro repeatedly accused Israel of committing atrocities in Gaza, drew condemnation from Israeli officials for inflammatory rhetoric and ultimately severed diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.

De la Espriella has vowed to reverse that policy. During the campaign, he pledged to rebuild Colombia’s relationship with Israel and strengthen ties with the United States, arguing that both countries remain critical allies in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.

His support for Israel has resonated with many members of Colombia’s Jewish community, which has expressed concern over the deterioration in relations between Bogota and Jerusalem during Petro’s presidency. While Colombia’s Jewish population is relatively small, Jewish organizations and pro-Israel advocates have closely followed the election because of its potential impact on diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Supporters celebrated in the streets of Bogota as preliminary results emerged, while Petro and Cepeda’s campaign questioned aspects of the vote count and signaled plans to challenge results from thousands of polling stations. No presidential election recount in modern Colombian history has overturned an initial result.

If the outcome is certified, de la Espriella will take office on Aug. 7 facing a divided nation, a polarized Congress and mounting pressure to deliver on promises to restore public safety and economic confidence.

For Israel and Colombia’s Jewish community, however, his victory could also signal the beginning of a new chapter after years of diplomatic tensions under Petro.