Vice-presidential candidate José Manuel Restrepo celebrated preliminary results that place his ticket in the second round of Colombia's presidential election.

The outcome is critical because it secures a path to the presidency for the Defensores de la Patria movement, signaling a significant shift in the country's political trajectory.

According to the pre-conteo, or pre-count, the ticket led by Abelardo De La Espriella and Restrepo obtained more than 10 million votes [1]. This surge of support guarantees the ticket a position in the runoff election, which was scheduled for June 21, 2026 [2].

Restrepo reacted to the news by posting a congratulatory message on X. He also shared a moment of celebration with De La Espriella, the two men embracing following the release of the preliminary figures [3].

"Comienza la patria milagro," Restrepo said [4].

The victory in the first round sets the stage for the final contest to determine the leadership of the country for the 2026-2030 term [5]. While some reports initially characterized the reaction as a second-round victory, other records clarify that the celebration followed the first-round pre-count [3, 6].

Restrepo's public response emphasizes the momentum of the Defensores de la Patria movement as they move toward the final vote. The embrace between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates served as a visual confirmation of their unity heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

“«Comienza la patria milagro»”

The ability of the De La Espriella-Restrepo ticket to surpass 10 million votes in a pre-count indicates a broad base of support that may pressure other political factions to consolidate. By securing a spot in the runoff, the Defensores de la Patria movement has transitioned from a contender to a primary protagonist in the 2026-2030 government cycle.