Progressive candidate Iván Cepeda on Wednesday conceded Colombia’s presidential election to conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.The concession came days after Cepeda initially refused to acknowledge defeat following preliminary results that showed de la Espriella as the apparent winner. "At this stage of the vote count, I have decided to accept the result emerging from that process, which indicates that Abelardo de la Espriella is the new President of the Republic," Cepeda said in an address to the nation. "I do so as an act of democratic responsibility."TRUMP SAYS COLOMBIA'S 'EL TIGRE' WILL BE A 'GREAT PRESIDENT' AS SOCIALIST OPPONENT LAUNCHES LEGAL CHALLENGEIvan Cepeda speaks during a campaign rally in Cali, Colombia, on June 6, 2026.(AFP via Getty Images)De la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer who had never previously run for office, known to his supporters as "El Tigre," defeated Senate member Iván Cepeda by one percentage point in a remarkably close election, according to officials. "The vote count shows an extraordinarily narrow margin between the two options vying for the trust of the Colombian people," he said.
"Less than 1% of the vote separates the candidacies that participated in this contest."Despite his concession, Cepeda made serious allegations that de la Espriella’s victory was influenced by "foreign interference" by the United States and the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate voters. "During this process, we denounced the open and improper foreign interference in Colombia's internal affairs—particularly the interventions by the United States government, and specifically the interventions by President Donald Trump in support of Abelardo de la Espriella's candidacy," he said. He further accused the opposing campaign of widespread vote-buying and unethical tactics that he said undermined the legitimacy of the election results.ANTI-CARTEL HARDLINER CHANNELS TRUMP IN BID TO...