Protesters burn US flags, clash with police after Colombia vote

Protesters in Colombia’s third-largest city, Cali, burned American flags and clashed with riot police after a Trump-endorsed hard-right candidate won the presidential election by a razor-thin margin.

Police used tear gas to try to disperse a crowd of thousands, some of whom wielded bricks and bars in anger at the victory of Abelardo de la Espriella.

With almost all polling centres reporting, De la Espriella won 49.66 per cent of the vote versus left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda’s 48.70 per cent.

The 47-year-old’s victory will likely improve strained relations with Washington and extend a wave of rightist candidates who have swept to power across Latin America.

The hard-right victor of Colombia’s presidential runoff vowed to respect democratic principles and govern for “all Colombians” Sunday, after narrowly winning a deeply polarising contest against his leftist rival.

“Today Colombia won its most important game,” the president-elect said in a series of social media posts, adding he had spoken to US President Donald Trump, who offered congratulations and support.

In a victory speech in Barranquilla, Abelardo de la Espriella said he would restore order after the most violent campaign in a decade and usher in a “new era” for the country, but he also sounded a conciliatory tone.

“Mine will be an absolutely democratic government and a guarantor of freedom and institutional order. I will be president for all Colombians,” he said.

AFP

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