Colombian left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda conceded defeat on Wednesday, three days after the country's presidential election, paving the way for right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella to take office following a narrowly contested run-off.
"I do this as an act of democratic responsibility," Cepeda said, acknowledging the result before electoral authorities formally declared de la Espriella the winner.
Cepeda had initially stopped short of conceding, saying he would wait for the official review of the vote count after preliminary results showed a tight race.
According to provisional official figures, de la Espriella, a right-wing politician backed by US President Donald Trump, secured a narrow victory in the run-off election.
The win by de la Espriella, who has branded himself publicly as "El Tigre" (The Tiger), reinforces a broader shift to the right seen in several Latin American countries.
He is due to take office on August 7, succeeding left-wing President Gustavo Petro.
