18/06/2026 03:34 - Internacionales
Políticos conservadores iberoamericanos en conferencia de prensa conjunta, banderas de España y Colombia al fondo, ambiente institucional, iluminación profesional
Mariano Rajoy, who served as Prime Minister of Spain from 2011 to 2018 and led the center-right Popular Party (Partido Popular) for decades, publicly announced his endorsement of Abelardo de la Espriella ahead of Colombia's decisive presidential runoff.
In a video released on June 16, 2026, Rajoy stated: "Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a commitment that I subscribe to—one with democracy, legality, private enterprise, and national interest. That is why I support him, and I ask all Colombians to do the same."
Mariano Rajoy remains an influential figure in Spanish and Ibero-American conservative politics. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he navigated Spain through economic recovery and the Catalan independence crisis. He now serves as a key figure in international conservative networks.
The Popular Party (PP) he led is Spain's main center-right political force, advocating for free-market economics, constitutional order, and European integration. Understanding this background helps explain why Rajoy's endorsement carries weight among Colombian voters concerned about economic stability and democratic governance.
Rajoy is a member of the Freedom and Democracy Group—a political forum bringing together former heads of state from right and center-right parties across Ibero-America. The group serves as a coordination platform for conservative leaders in the region.
Notably, former Colombian President Iván Duque (2018-2022) is also a member. Duque recently announced his support for Keiko Fujimori in Peru's presidential runoff, demonstrating the network's active engagement in electoral politics across the continent.
De la Espriella's campaign has garnered significant international backing from conservative leaders worldwide:
| Leader | Position/Country |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump | President of the United States |
| Giorgia Meloni | Prime Minister of Italy |
| Daniel Noboa | President of Ecuador |
| Nasry Asfura | President of Honduras |
| Javier Milei | President of Argentina |
| José Antonio Kast | Opposition Leader (Chile) |
| Mariano Rajoy | Former Prime Minister of Spain |
In January 2026, De la Espriella formally joined the Madrid Forum—an international coalition of conservative and right-wing leaders that includes figures like Argentina's Javier Milei and Chile's José Antonio Kast. The forum describes itself as a defender of democratic values against what it calls "communist regimes" in the region.
During that visit, the Colombian candidate met with Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's VOX party—a growing far-right political force in Spanish politics. This meeting reinforced De la Espriella's connections with European conservative movements.
Before the first round of voting, De la Espriella held two meetings with María Corina Machado—the Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. These meetings signal the candidate's alignment with democratic opposition movements across Latin America, particularly regarding the situation in neighboring Venezuela.
Colombia is preparing for a presidential runoff that will determine the successor to current President Gustavo Petro, the country's first left-wing head of state. The second round pits Abelardo de la Espriella against Iván Cepeda in an election that has polarized the country between two competing visions for Colombia's future.
What is a runoff election? In Colombia, if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes in the first round, the top two candidates compete in a second round (balotaje) where the winner takes all. This system ensures the president has broad popular support.
Source: La Silla Vacía
Alfredo S. Quiroga
