Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombia’s presidential runoff

Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia’s 21 June 2026 presidential runoff against Iván Cepeda, according to the preliminary count from the National Civil Registry. The final result corresponds to the official tally, carried out in the days following the vote.

De la Espriella, a lawyer and media figure, built his campaign around security and criticism of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s government. He will take office on 7 August 2026.

As with other recent elections in the region, Velours recommends that newsrooms clearly distinguish in their headlines between a preliminary count and the official tally, and explain to audiences the legal weight of each stage.

Source: National Civil Registry of Colombia.