Abelardo de la Espriella votes in Barranquilla confident of winning the Presidency of Colombia

Lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, presidential candidate of the right-wing Defensores de la Patria movement, voted this Sunday in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla confident that he will win the Presidency of Colombia to succeed Gustavo Petro.

“We have to defeat tyranny (…) We are going to defeat the regime with the fervor of the Colombian people and the help of God. Today Colombia wins, stand firm for the country,” the candidate said after voting.

LOOK: Gustavo Petro votes for the last time as president of Colombia and guarantees the transfer of power

From Espriellawhich leads all voting intention surveys, He arrived at his voting station, at La Enseñanza School, dressed in a Colombian soccer team shirt and a Panama hat adorned with a tricolor ribbon.

The candidate was accompanied by his wife, Ana Lucia Pineda; his four children, and a crowd that shouted “President, president,” “Out with Petro” and “Sign for the country,” his campaign slogan.

The right-wing candidate, who was surrounded by a strong security scheme, He asked his youngest daughter, Francesca, to cast her vote and once she did, De la Espriella put his hand to his temple to give the military salute. which he has also used throughout the presidential campaign.

The candidate was slow to leave the voting station because He took photos with some of his followers, He listened to several people and even hugged older people who came up to greet him.

“Today democracy wins,” insisted De la Espriella to journalists at the exit of the voting station, where the crowd continued shouting his name.

Before voting, the candidate published a message on his X account in which he stated: “Today the most important game in Colombia is played. Today we decide the future of our country and the future of our children. With the help of God and the support of millions of Colombians, we are going to win this democratic battle.”

For his part, the former Minister of Finance Jose Manuel RestrepoDe la Espriella’s running mate, also voted early at the EAN University in Bogotá, where he arrived accompanied by his wife and also dressed in the Colombian national team shirt.

“Today the time has come to build the future of Colombia with optimism and hope,” Restrepo told journalists that at his voting station he took photos with citizens who came to greet him and express their support.

Voting intention polls for this second round give De la Espriella, who has the support of US President Donald Trump, in first place, ahead of the leftist Iván Cepeda, Petro’s ally in the Historical Pact party.

In the first round, on May 31, which had a participation of 57.88%, De la Espriella, called ‘the Tiger’ by his followers, obtained 10.3 million votes (43.78%), while Cepeda received 9.7 million (40.98%).