Trump-backed populist wins tight Colombia presidential vote, sparking protests

Key Points:

• Abelardo de la Espriella, a U.S.-backed lawyer with no prior public office experience, narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.66% of the vote, defeating left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda who garnered 48.70%.
• De la Espriella's victory marks a shift to the right in Colombia, promising a hardline approach against drug-running guerrilla groups and signaling closer ties with the U.S., but it has sparked violent protests in major cities like Cali and Bogota.
• Despite the narrow win and unrest, De la Espriella vowed to govern democratically and inclusively, emphasizing security, employment, and dignity, while pledging to respect all political and social groups.
• Cepeda has yet to concede, awaiting final vote counts and verification, though the margin of 247,000 votes makes an overturn unlikely; De la Espriella urged him to respect the results and avoid inciting violence.
• The election outcome poses challenges for Colombia's fragile peace process with guerrilla groups, as De la Espriella plans to scrap peace talks and initiate a U.S.-backed military campaign against dissidents.