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GIWPS Analysis: Colombia’s Presidential Election

After a record-breaking voter turnout, Colombia has elected Abelardo “El Tigre” De La Espriella as its next president. The initial ballot count has right-wing De La Espriella narrowly defeating left-wing Iván Cepeda in one of the closest elections in the country’s history.  

What’s the context of Colombia’s presidential election?

De La Espriella, a lawyer and businessman with no prior experience holding elected office, built his campaign around promises to restore security and aggressively crack down on organized crime. His victory is the latest in a series of elections that reflect a rightward shift across Latin America.  

Colombia’s presidential election occurred in a context of deep polarization and escalating armed-group violence, with voters facing a choice between two competing approaches to peace and security. De La Espriella presented a hardline approach, vowing to restore public order through a tougher stance against armed groups, organized crime, and drug trafficking, including strengthening state authority and security institutions. Cepeda, a close ally of Gustavo Petro—the country’s first left-leaning President—advocated for continuity of Petro’s approach, emphasizing negotiations with armed groups, dialogue, and addressing the social and economic conditions that enable violence.

What does the election result mean for women?

President-elect De La Espriella—who was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump—ran a campaign that featured misogynistic and sexist rhetoric. In early June 2026, a judge ruled that the candidate’s statements about women voters and harassment of a female journalist constituted “political violence based on gender” and ordered him to issue a public apology. 

The political opinions and priorities of women in Colombia reflect the diversity of their identities, experiences, and needs. Many fear that De La Espriella’s presidency will threaten critical, yet fragile progress on women’s rights and undermine the implementation of gender provisions outlined in the 2016 Peace Agreement, including commitments related to women’s participation, protection, and meaningful inclusion.  Others, however, believe that De La Espriella is their best hope at addressing insecurity stemming from armed-group violence and drug trafficking.

What comes next?

In his victory speech, De La Espriella softened his usual rhetoric, pledging to “govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for [him] and those who chose the other candidate.” Given the slim margins and allegations of election interference, De La Espriella will enter office with a narrow mandate and a divided Congress. 

For decades, Colombian women’s organizations have played a central role in peace negotiations, transitional justice efforts, and community-level peacebuilding. Any approach to peace and security must consider the diversity of women’s needs and concerns, while acknowledging and empowering their critical roles as agents of change and implementers of peace. 

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