From outsider to president? Inside de la Espriella’s bid to lead Colombia

A political newcomer, Abelardo de la Espriella has become a leading contender for Colombia's next president. But what would his victory mean? xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoThe embankment was barely a sliver, wedged between lanes of traffic in the southern town of San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia. But on a recent June evening, in spite of the drizzle and dark, the grassy strip was packed with a jubilant chaos. Supporters had gathered to rally on behalf of Abelardo de la Espriella, the far-right presidential candidate nicknamed "The Tiger". Plastic trumpets competed with the blare of car horns. The slogan "Strong for the homeland" rippled through the crowd. And more than one participant wore Colombia's national football jersey, a bright yellow outfit de la Espriella himself has adopted on the campaign trail. Many were optimistic that de la Espriella is on the verge of victory. On Sunday, he competes in a run-off election to determine Colombia's next president. But a win for de la Espriella may herald more than just a return to the right-wing leadership. Experts warn it could usher in a "radical" new chapter in Colombian politics. That is what excites Luisa Castro, a former business owner who arrived at the rally dressed in her own yellow football jersey. “I turned to Abelardo de la Espriella because he is someone we’ve never seen in politics before. He’s different,” she said, as she stood in the fluorescent glow of the town's streetlights. Currently, de la Espriella is the frontrunner in the presidential race. A 47-year-old criminal defence lawyer with no political experience, he won the first round of voting in May with 44 percent of the ballots cast. Now, he faces left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda in the final round. Polls place him in the lead, with the research firm AtlasIntel estimating his support at 52 percent, as of June 13. De la Espriella does not fit the traditional mould of a right-wing politician. Before launching his presidential bid, he was best known for his work in court, representing a slate of controversial clients. One was former right-wing President Alvaro Uribe, accused of concealing paramilitary ties. Another was Alex Saab, a Colombian national who formerly served as a left-wing minister in Venezuela's government. Outside the courtroom, de la Espriella has built an eclectic business empire spanning menswear, rum and whiskey. He has even released classical music albums and opened a Miami-area restaurant. Critics credit his business credentials, fiery rhetoric and slick marketing tactics with appealing to voters disenchanted with traditional politics. “De la Espriella is ahead because he has managed to channel conservative voters, attract some voters disappointed with the government, and present himself as an alternative to established political figures,” said Patricia Munoz, a political analyst at Javeriana University in Bogota. But the centrepiece of his campaign has been his hardline approach to security. “I, Abelardo de la Espriella, am capable of bombing, fumigating and striking with an iron fist against criminals and the corrupt, while embracing and protecting law-abiding Colombians,” he said in a social media video from July 2025, when he announced his candidacy. One of the most stubborn issues facing Colombia is its internal armed conflict. For more than six decades, Colombia has been locked in a fight between government forces, paramilitaries, left-wing rebels and criminal organisations. To address the conflict, de la Espriella has pledged rigid punishments and tough-on-crime tactics. Upon taking office, he plans to build 10 privately run mega-prisons and lengthen sentences. He has even threatened to shoot planes out of the sky, if they are found to be carrying drugs. Those proposals have evoked comparisons to the far-right policies of such leaders as Donald Trump in the United States and Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. Trump recently endorsed de la Espriella's campaign for president. But voters like Castro in the town of San Jose del Guaviare believe such strategies are necessary to root out the crime in the country. Castro lives in the centre of Colombia, where de la Espriella's support has been the strongest. Her town has seen a resurgence of violence in recent years, as rival armed groups compete for territorial control. Castro, for instance, blames lax security policies for the collapse of her drink-selling business in May 2025. “I had a business that went bankrupt in two years because of extortion,” Castro told Al Jazeera, calling the local security situation "chaos". Now, she works as an informal street vendor. But she is confident a right-wing triumph in Sunday's election will mean improvements for local residents. “I’m hoping Abelardo will win and his government will dismantle these violent groups,” Castro said. “They are making fun of us. They’re mocking the victims. They have no intention of total peace.” "Total peace" i

From outsider to president? Inside de la Espriella’s bid to lead Colombia

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From outsider to president? Inside de la Espriella’s bid to lead Colombia

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