Colombian candidate Abelardo de la Espriella rejects claims his US citizenship bars presidency

Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, a far‑right figure in Colombia's election, holds Colombian, U.S. and Italian citizenship. He dismissed criticism that his U.S. nationality creates a conflict of interest, stating that Colombian law permits multiple nationalities and that his sole commitment is to Colombia. A group of 36 academics, former magistrates and jurists warned that the U.S. oath of allegiance could contradict the duties of a Colombian president, calling the issue an attempt to discredit his candidacy ahead of the June 21 runoff. De la Espriella also cited support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged “total U.S. support” if he wins. In parallel, former electoral magistrate Luis Guillermo Pérez filed a legal demand to bar De la Espriella from the presidency on grounds of dual citizenship, reviving the constitutional debate over eligibility. In the first round, De la Espriella received 10.3 million votes (43.78 %), while his left‑wing rival Iván Cepeda obtained 9.7 million (40.98 %).