De la Espriella Wins

Colombian electoral authorities declared conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella the winner of the country’s presidential runoff, making the Trump-endorsed millionaire lawyer and businessman Colombia’s next president. De la Espriella defeated progressive Senator Iván Cepeda by a razor-thin margin of less than 1 percentage point after a record turnout, prompting Cepeda and outgoing President Gustavo Petro to initially withhold recognition of the result. Cepeda conceded three days after the vote, saying he would accept the count at its current stage and ending uncertainty over the contested race. The victory marks a sharp rightward turn for Colombia and elevates a political novice whose public profile includes business ventures in fashion, alcohol brands and restaurants.