From ‘The Lion’ to ‘The Tiger“: Conservative Trump allies gain ground in Latin America
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Keiko Fujimori , a business-friendly conservative politician who campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform, on Friday was…
In the past few years, conservatives have been making significant strides in Latin America, with seven major presidential elections resulting in right-wing leaders. This upward trend can be attributed to growing concerns over crime, immigration, and stagnant economic growth. This shift is highlighted by two recent Latin American countries: Colombia and Peru.
In Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, nicknamed "The Tiger," emerged victorious in the presidential election held in June 2026. De la Espriella, a pro-business conservative, won by a slim margin, defeating Iván Cepeda, a progressive lawmaker. De la Espriella's campaign centered around a tough-on-crime agenda, including the cancellation of peace talks with Colombian rebel groups and the construction of large-scale prisons, similar to those in El Salvador.
His election marks a significant turnaround for Colombia, which had been led for four years by a former rebel group member who criticized the Trump administration's immigration and anti-drug policies. De la Espriella promised to combat extortion and drug trafficking, and he was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who touted him as the candidate capable of restoring order in Colombia.
Meanwhile, in Peru, Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the late former President Alberto Fujimori, clinched victory in the presidential runoff election. Fujimori, 51, campaigned on a tough stance against crime and pledged to build four new prisons, including a mega-prison modeled after El Salvador's CECOT facility. She also vowed to militarize Peru's borders to curb drug trafficking and deport migrants working in the country without proper legal residency.
The Fujimori family's political legacy includes Alberto Fujimori's authoritarian rule in the 1990s, which helped defeat the violent Shining Path extremist group but also resulted in authoritarian measures. Fujimori's platform emphasizes an aggressive crackdown on crime and a militarized approach to border security.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
