COLOMBIA has ushered in a new president, nicknamed the “Tiger”, who has vowed to bury anyone challenging his razor-thin victory.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a hard-right opera singing millionaire, beat left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda in a fiercely contested run-off.

The victory margin stood at less than 1 per cent of the vote – making it one of the closest elections in Colombia‘s history.

Shielded behind bullet-proof glass in Barranquilla, northern Colombia, Abelardo said: “I appear before you tonight to announce the most important news of my life.

“The Colombian people have entrusted me with the supreme honour of serving them as their next president of the Republic of Colombia.

“I will govern for all Colombians… there will be no retaliation, no persecution, because in a democracy there are no irreconcilable enemies.”

The victory symbolises a sharp turn in Colombian politics after four years of Left-wing rule under Gustavo Petro.

It also marks Abelardo’s first run for office.

The 47-year-old, who received Donald Trump‘s backing, has vowed to crush organised crime and said he has “the balls to restore order”.

Nicknamed The Tiger for his militant style, Abelardo has been compared to the US president for his wealthy business persona.

Before his move into politics Abelardo worked as a Miami lawyer, founded a clothing line and opened a restaurant in South Florida.

His legal portfolio includes a number of high profile clients including drug trafficking paramilitaries and football stars.

Abelardo has consistently argued that representing a client does not imply his support for their actions.

Known as a flamboyant socialite, Abelardo sang opera and self-produced an album of covers of hits by artists like Frank Sinatra.

Throughout his campaign Abelardo sold pricey, limited-edition watches to donors.

“He Won, BIG!” Trump posted on Truth Social after his victory was announced.

Ahead of his victory, Abelardo warned that the US government would come after anyone who obstructed Sunday’s election.

He then threatened to bury anyone who challenged his win in prisons “15 metres underground without light and without water.”

Abelardo promised to abandon Petro’s “Total Peace” strategy to tackle violence by reintegrating guerrilla soldiers into civilian life.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or displaced by the violence between armed groups that has wracked Colombia for six decades.

These include Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) factions, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Clan del Golfo.

Abelardo said he will end negotiations with armed groups, bomb criminal camps and construct 10 mega prisons modelled on those built in El Salvador.

Cepeda, Abelardo’s 63-year-old opponent refused to concede defeat and promised to challenge results from more than 30,000 voting stations.

The veteran senator is a devout campaigner against links between the Colombian state and the Right-wing paramilitary groups responsible for the 1994 assassination of his father.

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