Pro-Trump de la Espriella and peace-builder Cepeda to face off in a presidential runoff in Colombia

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Tough-on-crime lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and peace-builder Iván Cepeda were leading the vote count in the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday, and are to face off in a runoff in the South American nation later in June.

De la Espriella — a newcomer known as “El Tigre, or “The Tiger” — has sought to portray himself as a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, vowing to crack down on criminal groups.

He leads the race with nearly 44% of the votes, Colombia’s electoral authorities said late Sunday, but fell short of the 50% needed to win in the first round.

Second is Cepeda, a progressive senator and an ally of Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro who has promised to carry on a fraught push for “total peace.” Cepeda scooped up just under 41% of the vote. Petro refused to accept the results of the election Sunday night in a post on the social media platform X, claiming without evidence that the results were manipulated by outside actors and that the results were “not binding.”