Washington.- President Donald Trump promised this Wednesday that Colombia will have “the full support and strength” of the United States if the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella wins the runoff of the presidential elections in Colombia.
Trump, who last week announced his support for De la Espriella, stressed in a message on his Truth Social network that the Colombian candidate has his “full and unconditional endorsement” ahead of the June 21 runoff election.
“The results of these elections are crucial for the future of Colombia and its relationship with the United States, a country that, if Abelardo wins, thanks to his competence and love for his country, will have the full support and strength of the United States,” wrote the American president.
In turn, Trump congratulated De la Espriella on his victory in the first round last May 31st and spoke of the far-right candidate, who describes himself as ‘The Tiger’, as “an intelligent, strong, and tenacious leader.”
Support for De la Espriella and Petro’s suspension order
Trump also warned that De la Espriella “will face a radical left-wing Marxist in the runoff,” in reference to his rival Iván Cepeda, political heir to the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro.
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“As president, Abelardo will be a resounding success in leading Colombia to boost the economy, create jobs, promote trade, stop illegal immigration, combat crime and drugs, and restore public order!”, he said.
As Trump fully enters Colombia’s electoral campaign, a commission of the South American country’s House of Representatives ordered this Wednesday the temporary suspension of Petro as president, considering that he has improperly participated in the campaign, something the president denied during an intervention at the UN, in New York this Wednesday.
De la Espriella, who obtained 44% of the votes in the first round, will compete in the second round scheduled for next June 21, against Cepeda, who obtained 41% of the votes.
