Abelardo De La Espriella, a 47-year-old criminal defense lawyer endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, is leading the right-wing charge in Colombia’s presidential runoff scheduled for this weekend. Campaigning under the nickname “The Tiger,” De La Espriella has cultivated an image of a tough, macho leader, drawing both fervent support and sharp criticism amid a divided electorate.
De La Espriella’s campaign emphasizes a hardline approach to security and law enforcement, promising to crack down on drug trafficking and restore order. He portrays himself as a traditional family man and frequently appeals to masculine ideals, posting social media content that highlights his physical fitness and projecting an unapologetically macho persona. His rhetoric includes pledges to dismantle what he terms “gender ideology” and calls for shrinking the size of government, including closing the Ministry of Equality—a move that has attracted controversy.
Despite affirming respect for Colombia’s constitution, De La Espriella opposes abortion and same-sex adoption, raising concerns among women’s rights advocates about the possibility of reversing recent progressive rulings, such as the 2022 Constitutional Court decision legalizing abortion up to 24 weeks. He has advocated for families, not schools, to oversee sex education and has expressed opposition to what he describes as “conditioning” children with gender perspectives. These positions reflect broader trends among right-wing populists in Latin America, who increasingly use coded language around “gender ideology” to challenge feminist advances without explicitly targeting women’s rights.
The candidate’s conduct on the campaign trail has sparked accusations of sexism. He has made lewd remarks and publicly disparaged a prominent female journalist during an interview, leading to a judge ruling that he engaged in “political violence based on gender” and ordering a formal apology to Colombian women. De La Espriella denied allegations ranging from buttock implants to accusations that he exploits the name of Rosa Elvira Cely—the victim whose death inspired Colombia’s femicide law, which he claims to have helped advance as a lawyer.
Public reaction to De La Espriella is sharply divided by gender and political affiliation. Some male supporters see him as a symbol of security, family values, and respect, with Carlos Alberto García Palau, a former policeman from Medellín, describing the candidate as “the great hope of all Colombians.” Conversely, many women express apprehension; feminist intellectual Florence Thomas called him a threat to Colombia’s hard-won gender rights and pledged support for his left-wing opponent, Senator Iván Cepeda, who has promised to confront patriarchy and increase support for women.
Others view the election through a different lens. Jennifer Orozco, a graphic designer, emphasized security concerns over gender issues, stating that firmness against crime is paramount. Meanwhile, feminist advocacy groups acknowledge that the rights agenda is not the primary factor for most voters this cycle, reflecting the complex interplay between social issues and broader concerns like public safety.
The campaign’s gender dynamics have intensified public debate around machismo and the future of women’s rights in Colombia, a country noted for progressive policies amidst a conservative cultural backdrop. De La Espriella’s candidacy highlights ongoing tensions between traditionalist and reformist forces as Colombians prepare to choose between him and Cepeda, whose platform centers on human rights and social inclusion.