Colombian voters have thrown their support behind a new conservative force: Aberaldo de la Espriella, a political outsider who has cast himself as the latest Trump ally in Latin America. The 47-year-old lawyer secured 43.74 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential election over the weekend, according to The Wall Street Journal. He now faces a runoff later this month against progressive Senator Iván Cepeda after falling short of an outright majority.
De la Espriella’s campaign has centered on a fierce crackdown on gangs and the illegal drug trade, aligning closely with the Trump administration’s priorities. While Cepeda has focused on poverty eradication, economic diversification, and protecting Bogotá’s natural wealth, de la Espriella has promised an unprecedented offensive against narcoterrorism. His hardline stance has earned him the nickname “El Tigre” (The Tiger).
“I will wipe out narcoterrorism and those who I’ve declared a military target like cockroaches, like rats. I will unleash upon them the wrath of God never seen before,” de la Espriella told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
Background in Law
A lawyer by training, de la Espriella runs three law firms across Colombia specializing in criminal and civil cases, including white-collar crime, asset recovery, and corporate compliance. He built his reputation defending high-profile clients, such as former President Álvaro Uribe and controversial figures like Alex Saab, a close ally of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Saab is currently under U.S. indictment after his capture in January.
Mega-Prison Plan
If elected, de la Espriella has pledged to open 10 mega-prisons nationwide, a proposal that has resonated with Colombian voters frustrated by rampant crime. The plan echoes the mass incarceration approach of El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has used a similar mega-prison to hold deported U.S. migrants. However, de la Espriella insists he is not trying to copy Bukele.
“Colombia is going through its darkest hours. At the end of the day, this is not a battle between Iván Cepeda and me; it is a battle between totalitarianism and democracy,” he told Reuters in February. “I will dare to do what needs to be done within the framework of the constitution and the law to save and rebuild Colombia… I am the tiger for that.”
The runoff will test whether de la Espriella’s Trump-aligned message can overcome Cepeda’s progressive platform. The outcome could reshape Colombia’s political landscape and its relationship with Washington, particularly as the Trump administration continues its focus on combating drug trafficking and supporting conservative allies in the region.
