Trump-backed Abelardo de la Espriella leads Colombia presidential race with 49.7% to Ivan Cepeda’s 48.7%

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella held a narrow lead in Colombia’s presidential election, with 49.7% of the vote versus 48.7% for leftist rival Ivan Cepeda. Nearly all ballots had been counted, leaving a margin of roughly 248,000 votes between the two candidates. De la Espriella has pledged to expand the oil and gas industry, end peace talks with armed groups and shrink the state, while Cepeda has campaigned on continuing President Gustavo Petro’s agenda, including a ban on new oil projects.