Barranquilla, Colombia — A flamboyant U.S.-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia’s polarizing presidential runoff Sunday, swinging the country hard right and sparking violent protests.
With almost all the ballots counted, Abelardo de la Espriella held 49.66% of the vote versus left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda’s 48.70%.
The 47-year-old’s slender win triggered demonstrations, but will ease ties with Washington and extend a regional right-wing wave centered on “iron fist” security policies.
“We are beginning a new era!” he told supporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla from behind thick bulletproof glass.
Abelardo de la Espriella, candidate
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