{"id":263360,"date":"2026-06-03T02:09:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/uncategorized\/2026\/06\/03\/the-trump-style-surge-how-a-hardline-crime-stance-won-colombias-votes\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T02:09:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:09:16","slug":"the-trump-style-surge-how-a-hardline-crime-stance-won-colombias-votes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/politics\/2026\/06\/03\/the-trump-style-surge-how-a-hardline-crime-stance-won-colombias-votes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Trump-Style Surge: How a Hardline Crime Stance Won Colombia’s Votes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Translation result<\/p>\n

\"Abelardo\"\n<\/div>\n

In the first round of Colombia\u2019s presidential election, right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella\u2014widely labeled as pro\u2011Trump\u2014mounted a late surge to finish first.<\/p>\n

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According to the AP and other outlets, vote counts from the first round held on the 31st of last month showed Espriella, the candidate of the “Guardians of the Homeland,” with 43.7%, placing him first. Iv\u00e1n Cepeda, the left\u2011leaning candidate of the ruling party “Historic Pact,” received 40.9%.<\/p>\n

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Espriella overturned expectations that Cepeda would lead by consolidating conservative support at the last minute. Because no candidate secured a majority, Espriella and Cepeda will face each other in a runoff on the 21st.<\/p>\n

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A political newcomer and former criminal-defense attorney, Espriella has publicly expressed support for right\u2011wing leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, El Salvador\u2019s Nayib Bukele, and Argentina\u2019s Javier Milei.<\/p>\n

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He campaigned on a hardline crackdown on criminal organizations, the construction of 10 mega\u2011prisons in the southern Amazon region, strengthened security cooperation with the United States and Israel, and revitalizing the oil industry. He pledged to work with the Trump administration\u2014which has framed a “war on drugs”\u2014to restore public order. Observers say his tough\u2011on\u2011crime platform quickly consolidated his base.<\/p>\n

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Cepeda, a close ally of President Gustavo Petro, likewise pledged to address security through the administration\u2019s “total peace” approach. Having been involved in past peace negotiations with the FARC guerrillas, he proposes distributing land to the poor, expanding social spending, and continuing policies aimed at disarming drug trafficking groups and armed rebels under the total peace framework.<\/p>\n

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The AP noted that voters across Latin America are increasingly turning away from progressive leaders who promise reforms to tackle root causes such as limited opportunities for young people and corruption, and are instead gravitating toward candidates who promise tougher security measures. Last month, President Trump unveiled a new counterterrorism strategy that identified Latin American drug cartels as a major security threat.<\/p>\n

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Across major Latin American countries, a “blue tide” of successive right\u2011wing victories has emerged as voters react to economic hardship and worsening security under leftist governments. Right\u2011wing candidates won Costa Rica\u2019s presidential election in February and recent contests in Honduras, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Observers are watching to see whether Colombia will follow the same trend.<\/p>\n

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