LATEST: Live: De la Espriella new president of Colombia according to preliminary results
International Briefing:
Global attention remains focused on this evolving story as officials and analysts assess the broader implications.
06/22/2026 – 01:06José Manuel Restrepo, De la Espriella’s running mate, congratulates him on social networks 06/22/2026 – 01:00Argentinian President, Javier Milei, congratulates De La Espriella: “The lion and the tiger roar in Latin America” 06/22/2026 – 00:35″There are many irregularities”: Petro following the results of the preliminary counting which give De la Espriella the winner The current president of the country, Gustavo Petro, denounced “numerous irregularities” during this second round of the presidential election. “Polling stations not bearing the signature of the assessors must be immediately contested. We still do not know who the president is and there are many irregularities,” Petro said on 360,000 votes on Cepeda 06/21/2026 – 11:57 p.m. More than 89% of votes counted: Abelardo de la Espriella maintains his lead over Iván Cepeda 06/21/2026 – 11:42 p.m. More than 45% of votes counted: Abelardo de la Espriella in the lead Far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella is leading the preliminary counting of the votes of this second round of the presidential election in Colombia, while more than 45% of the polling stations have been counted by the National Registry. This 47-year-old businessman, who likes to be called “The Tiger” and perform the military salute in front of his supporters, has made himself known as a lawyer by defending former paramilitaries, drug traffickers, footballers and a man the origin of a vast pyramid fraud in Colombia. Denouncing the political class, he campaigned as an “outsider”, having given up his luxurious life in the Italian city of Florence to save “the homeland”, managing to oust the traditional right. 06/21/2026 – 11:23 p.m. Colombia: a historic presidential election? Four years after the left came to power for the first time in the country’s history, Colombia now faces two possible paths: deepen the reformist program of the Historic Pact with the left-wing candidate, Iván Cepeda, or opt for radical change with Abelardo de la Espriella, representative of the far right. These two paths present very marked divergences on fundamental questions such as: -> security management -> support or not for the processes resulting from the 2016 peace agreement -> the use of natural resources -> relations with neighboring countries. The results of the first round, which was held on May 31, confirmed an intensification of polarization: a political map completely divided between the left and the right, between the center and the peripheries. 06/21/2026 – 11:19 p.m. Increase in voting abroad in the United States Voting abroad for the Colombian presidential election increased in the United States during this second round, particularly in Miami, where a high turnout was recorded, as Colombian Ambassador Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo told the media. Between Monday and Saturday, voting abroad notably exceeded that recorded during the first tour, on May 31. 06/21/2026 – 11:05 p.m. Polling stations close Polling stations closed at 4 p.m. local time (9 p.m. GMT), after eight hours of voting, and the National Registry, which organizes the election, is expected to publish the results of the preliminary count before 6 p.m. local time (11 p.m. GMT). The vote took place peacefully, without violent incidents, and authorities called on citizens to respect the result. 06/21/2026 – 22:27 Reports for irregularities and “marked” ballots During his first assessment, Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said that 2,612 complaints had been received regarding possible irregularities in the second round of the presidential elections. Armando Benedetti also declared via his X account that he had received reports of “ marked ballot papers, with lines or dots, in 14 departments” of the country. He asked “the authorities to be very vigilant so that the popular will is respected, especially in the departments of Atlántico, Bolívar, Caquetá, La Guajira, Bogotá, Magdalena, Nariño, Guaviare, Putumayo, Norte de Santander, Córdoba, Guainía, Valle del Cauca and Caquetá.” 06/21/2026 – 22:05 A second round “without disturbances to public order” (OAS) The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS) affirmed that the second round of the Colombian presidential election took place without disturbances to public order and that nothing had compromised the “vote”. “What we have observed so far is the free participation of the Colombian people; “There has been no information reporting disturbances to public order or any element likely to compromise this election to date,” declared during a press conference the head of the mission, former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández (1996-2000 and 2004-2012). The OAS mission has 96 observers and political specialists of 24 nationalities, distributed in 26 of the 32 departments of the countries and in cities abroad such as Madrid, New York or Miami, in order to follow the presidential election. 06/21/2026 – 9:41 p.m. Good evening Welcome everyone to our live broadcast dedicated to the second round of the presidential election in Colombia. Follow the progress and the results thanks to our coverage coordinated by Léa Hurel and Julián Ramírez Castro from the Spanish-speaking editorial team based in Bogotá.
Global Impact:
The situation could have broader implications for regional stability, international relations, and global markets.
Additional reactions from governments and international institutions are expected as the situation evolves.
Readers are encouraged to monitor future developments as the situation evolves.
Source: This article was originally published by France 24 – Infos, news & actualités – L'information internationale en direct and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
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