Abelardo de la Espriella was never going to be a typical Colombian presidential candidate. Nicknamed ‘The Tiger,’ the defence lawyer who has represented a string of controversial clients is also a businessman, who owns a number of clothing and alcohol brands, a Miami restaurant and even music albums.

De la Espriella campaigned on a radical and robust security agenda, vowing to rid Colombia of its violent and criminal woes.

“I will wipe out narco-terrorism..I will unleash the wrath of God upon them as never seen before,” de la Espriella said

“I will wipe out narco-terrorism..I will unleash the wrath of God upon them as never seen before,” de la Espriella said

“I will wipe out narco-terrorism, those I have sentenced and declared military targets, like cockroaches, like rats. I will unleash the wrath of God upon them as never seen before,” de la Espriella said during his campaign.

He used AI, algorithms, memes and influencers to help deliver his messages to voters. And it worked. Now de la Espriella – who has never held public office – has pulled off an extraordinary feat. The political outsider has been elected Colombia’s next president, and arguably the country’s most radical right-wing one in decades.

Less than one percentage point separated him from his left-wing rival, Iván Cepeda, a senator and close ally of incumbent president Gustavo Petro. De la Espriella won 49.65 per cent of the vote that saw a record turnout, while Cepeda finished close behind on 48.71 per cent.

The result, however, also lays bare a deeply divided electorate, split over how to tackle the country’s problems, chief among them security.

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The two men represented markedly different visions for Colombia. Cepeda, a human rights lawyer and........

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