Key facts
- Abelardo de la Espriella, a candidate endorsed by Donald Trump, is projected to win the Colombian presidential election.
- De la Espriella's platform includes a hardline approach to crime, such as canceling peace talks with insurgent groups and building mega-prisons.
- Donald Trump expressed optimism about improved U.S.-Colombia relations under de la Espriella.
- De la Espriella's apparent victory signifies a shift towards more conservative leadership in Latin America, following similar elections in Argentina, Ecuador, Honduras, Chile, and Costa Rica.
Abelardo de la Espriella, a candidate backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, appears to have won the Colombian presidential election, signaling a broader trend of conservative leadership shifts in Latin America. De la Espriella, an outsider candidate, narrowly led his rival Iván Cepeda by approximately one percentage point, with election authorities yet to officially declare a winner. His campaign centered on a strong stance against crime, proposing to cancel peace talks with Colombian insurgent groups and construct large-scale prisons, similar to models seen in El Salvador.
Trump has expressed optimism about the potential for improved U.S.-Colombia relations under de la Espriella, whom he referred to as 'El Tigre.' This development follows a pattern in the region, where several countries have recently elected conservative or libertarian leaders.
In Argentina, economist Javier Milei was elected president in November 2023 on a platform of fiscal austerity and tackling inflation, implementing measures such as limiting central bank money printing and reducing public spending. While inflation has decreased, his policies have faced criticism for impacting living standards.
Ecuador re-elected Daniel Noboa in April 2025, a conservative leader who has increased the military's role in combating drug trafficking, though homicide rates have not substantially decreased. His administration has also faced accusations of human rights violations.
Honduras elected Nasry Asfura of the National Party, a party also associated with former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was pardoned by Trump. Asfura's government has engaged in agreements with Washington regarding deportations.
Chile's conservative president, José Antonio Kast, won in December, campaigning on fears of rising crime and promising to expel undocumented migrants. His government has faced protests related to unemployment and budget cuts.
Costa Rica saw Laura Fernández, former Economy Minister, win in February with a platform focused on a tough approach to crime.