Will Colombia Elect Its Own Bukele?
Key takeaways
- Get audio access with any FP subscription.
- On the campaign trail, he sports a black bulletproof vest and addresses vast crowds from behind armored glass panels.
- Meet Abelardo de la Espriella, the front-runner of Colombia’s presidential race.
Get audio access with any FP subscription.
On the campaign trail, he sports a black bulletproof vest and addresses vast crowds from behind armored glass panels. He greets his followers, whom he calls “defenders of the homeland,” with a military salute. He promises to restore Colombia’s security with an “iron fist.”
Meet Abelardo de la Espriella, the front-runner of Colombia’s presidential race. Ahead of a contentious runoff on Sunday, security is top of mind for many voters, as violent crime has soared in the country in recent years. De la Espriella, a 47-year-old criminal defense lawyer and political newcomer, has cast himself as the “tough on crime” candidate. His campaign promises include the construction of megaprisons, an end to peace talks with armed groups, and an all-out war against criminal organizations. It’s a strategy that he argues has proved successful elsewhere in Latin America.