Abelardo de la Espriella (Abelardas de la Esprielja), speaking in his campaign about a tough fight against crime, stated that relations with Washington will be “like never before” if he wins the second round of elections on June 21 against left-wing senator Iván Cepeda (Ivan Sepeda).
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A. de la Espriella unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential election held on Sunday, set against the backdrop of drug-related guerrilla violence.
Relying on a law and order platform that has brought right-wingers to power across Latin America, he garnered more than 43% of the vote, compared to 41% for I. Cepeda.
Conservative Paloma Valencia (Paloma Valensija), who came in third, expressed support for this right-wing showman, ensuring him the most favorable position to become the next president of one of Washington’s closest allies in South America.
On his social network “Truth Social,” D. Trump wrote that the election results are “very important for Colombia’s future and its relations with the United States.”
Speaking about A. de la Espriella’s “great achievements in life and his political support for me personally,” D. Trump expressed “full and absolute support” for the candidate who calls himself Colombia’s “Tiger.”
D. Trump’s relations with outgoing left-wing president Gustavo Petro (Gustavo Petru) were tense in the first years after his return to the White House.
Both leaders exchanged sharp statements on social networks regarding migration and D. Trump’s campaign against suspected drug trafficking ships operating in Latin America.
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“When one country interferes in the decisions of another, freedom dies,” G. Petro wrote in response to D. Trump’s support for one of the candidates. “I call on all of Colombia to vote completely freely.”
D. Trump previously mocked G. Petro, calling him a “drug leader,” and imposed sanctions on him, but in February, when G. Petro visited the White House, the two leaders improved relations.
I. Cepeda promised to continue G. Petro’s legacy – to seek dialogue with armed groups, including drug traffickers, and to reduce inequality.
A judge in Bogotá also ordered A. de la Espriella to apologize within 48 hours for allegedly sexist comments he made last month during a radio interview.
The court ruling states that during the interview, clips of which spread on social networks, A. de la Espriella showed the journalist a “personal photo,” which was understood as a “clear sexual innuendo.”
The father of four, who maintains close ties with evangelical preachers, was criticized during the election campaign for a series of statements considered homophobic or sexist.
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