Colombia Presidential Runoff: Trump-Endorsed De la Espriella Narrowly Defeats Petro's Chosen Successor Cepeda

June 21, 2026 — Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella defeated Iván Cepeda, President Gustavo Petro's chosen successor, in Colombia's presidential runoff by a margin of 49.66% to 48.70% — under 250,000 votes, the narrowest margin in Colombia's modern electoral history, on record turnout. The ELN, Colombia's largest active rebel group, had announced a unilateral halt to attacks on the military bracketing the vote (June 20-23). De la Espriella campaigned on an 'iron fist' approach to armed groups, positioning the result as a referendum on Petro's negotiated-settlement 'Total Peace' policy, which the incoming administration was expected to substantially wind down.