Abelardo de la Espriella, a 48-year-old right-wing attorney, officially assumed Colombia’s presidency following his victory in a June runoff election. The lawyer and businessman took the oath of office on Friday in Cali, a southwestern city frequently affected by armed conflict, rather than in the traditional capital location of Bogota. De la Espriella’s campaign centered on pledges to combat armed groups, reduce government spending significantly, and reinvigorate the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The new president’s inauguration signals a sharp departure from his predecessor’s approach. Outgoing leader Gustavo Petro had pursued negotiated settlements with armed factions, a strategy de la Espriella has rejected as ineffective. During Friday’s ceremony, de la Espriella declared his administration would “relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism” and stated that dialogue options had been exhausted. His political shift aligns Colombia with increasingly conservative governments across Latin America and reflects alignment with United States leadership’s hardline stance on drug trafficking.
The inauguration proceeded amid heightened security measures, with military personnel and armored vehicles stationed throughout Cali. De la Espriella addressed troops at a nearby military battalion immediately following the ceremony, reinforcing his administration’s security-focused direction. Despite his electoral success, protests erupted in multiple Colombian cities, with demonstrators opposing his presidency. De la Espriella has also committed to joining a U.S.-led regional anti-drug coalition and adjusting Colombia’s international relationships accordingly.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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