As Colombia heads into a pivotal presidential runoff on Sunday, conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella is riding a wave of voter frustration over crime, cartels and economic uncertainty.His rise comes as outgoing President Gustavo Petro faces mounting political turmoil, turning the election into a high-stakes battle over the future of one of America’s most important allies in Latin America.De le Espriella’s campaign is built on a platform of law and order, anti-cartel crackdowns and repairing U.S.-Colombia relations as he faces leftist politician Iván Cepeda in the presidential runoff.Cepeda is from Petro’s socialist party.COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT PETRO THREATENS MILITARY RESPONSE AFTER TRUMP WARNS COLOMBIA MAY BE NEXT TARGETColombia's presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Defensores de la Patria party, speaks behind bulletproof glass during his closing campaign rally in Medellin, Colombia on May 24, 2026.
Colombia will hold presidential elections on May 31. (Jaime Saldarriaga/AFP Via Getty Images)In a region increasingly defined by larger-than-life political figures, de la Espriella is known universally as "El Tigre," and has transformed his nickname into a political movement.Campaign rallies feature tiger imagery, merchandise and slogans built around strength and fearlessness.He has openly embraced comparisons to President Trump, presenting himself as a political outsider willing to confront entrenched elites, challenge progressive orthodoxies and restore what supporters describe as strength and order to government.Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech during a troop recognition ceremony at the Jose Maria Cordova Military Cadet School in Bogota on March 11, 2025.
(Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)Earlier this week Trump endorsed him stating in part on social media that: "Colombian Presidential Candidate, "El Tigre (THE TIGER)," Abelardo de la Espriella, is a Smart, Strong, and Tough Leader, who fights tirelessly ...