Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s new president on Friday, breaking with modern tradition by holding his inauguration ceremony in Cali rather than the country’s congressional building in the capital Bogotá, according to Reuters. De la Espriella, 48, won June’s presidential runoff by about 250,000 votes, defeating left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda by roughly one percentage point, as reported by NPR.
Abelardo de la Espriella Takes Oath as Colombia’s New President in Historic Cali Ceremony
The inauguration at the Arena USC of the Universidad Santiago de Cali took place amid tight security measures and a security lockdown in southwestern Cali, as detailed by Caracol Radio and detroitnews.com. Dignitaries attending the bilateral meetings and ceremony included the king of Spain and the presidents of Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay, and Panama, alongside FIFA head Gianni Infantino and a United States delegation headed by acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Hard-Line Security Stance and Rejection of Peace Talks
Following the protocolary investiture, De la Espriella proceeded to the Cantón Militar Pichincha, a military complex where he delivered a 75-minute speech to the troops of the Military Forces and the Police. I send a firm message to the Colombian people: the time has come to restore order, authority, and freedom,
he told the assembled troops, according to Reuters.
The new president declared that the option of peace talks with armed groups is completely exhausted,
marking a sharp departure from outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro’s strategy of “Total Peace.” De la Espriella promised to confront criminal gangs and rebel groups with greater military force, build large mega-prisons, and definitively eradicate illicit crops through aerial herbicide spraying by airplanes and drones. He also announced plans to review the nature and effects of the Jurisdictional Special for Peace (JEP).
Economic Reforms, Austerity, and Energy Plans
Domestically, the administration faces a fiscal deficit estimated by incoming finance minister Miguel Gomez at 7% to 8% of GDP. To address economic challenges, De la Espriella announced a decree freezing public spending—with plans to cut government spending by as much as 40% and close 14 Colombian embassies in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean—while preserving popular social programs.
Additional economic and energy measures include:
- Proposing a structural, growth-focused tax reform and eliminating the wealth tax.
- Joining the Shield of the Americas program founded by U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Expanding oil and gas exploration, including the development of responsible and sustainable fracking, and strengthening state-run oil company Ecopetrol.
Political Realities and Congressional Challenges
Political analysts note that while De la Espriella can advance certain policies directly or via decree during his first 100 days—such as security crackdowns and coca eradication—many of his broader legislative proposals will require building a majority in Colombia’s fragmented Congress. Meanwhile, outgoing president Petro has refused to recognize the election victory and called for marches in major cities.
The new cabinet features Vice President-elect Jose Manuel Restrepo, former finance minister; Omar Bula as foreign minister; retired Major General Jorge Eduardo Mora as defense minister; Maria Arboleda as energy minister; and Miguel Gomez as finance minister.
