Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella has been sworn in as Colombia’s president, replacing leftist leader Gustavo Petro and marking a major shift in the country’s political direction.
De la Espriella, 48, took the oath of office on Friday in Cali, breaking with tradition by holding the inauguration outside the capital, Bogotá. The southwestern city has been heavily affected by conflict involving armed groups.
In his inaugural address, the new president vowed to take a tougher approach to armed groups and drug trafficking, declaring that his government would relentlessly combat what he described as “narco-terrorism.”
He also signalled an end to Petro’s strategy of negotiated peace with armed groups, saying the option of dialogue had been exhausted.
On the economic front, de la Espriella promised to cut government spending by as much as 40 per cent, encourage investment and revive Colombia’s oil and gas industry.
He called for the development of what he described as responsible and sustainable fracking, while pledging to strengthen state-owned oil company Ecopetrol and address declining oil and gas reserves.
Known to supporters as “El Tigre” (The Tiger), de la Espriella is a political newcomer who built his career and wealth as a lawyer and businessman. He largely financed his presidential campaign himself and ran as an outsider candidate.
His administration is expected to take a significantly tougher security stance, particularly in Colombia’s southwest, where dissident factions of the former FARC, the Clan del Golfo cartel and the National Liberation Army (ELN) remain active.
The new president has also pledged to join the US-backed “Shield of the Americas” initiative against drug trafficking, restore diplomatic relations with Israel and cut ties with Cuba and Nicaragua.
Meanwhile, protests were reported in Cali, Bogotá and Barranquilla on inauguration day, reflecting the political divisions that remain following the closely contested election.
De la Espriella’s victory marks a sharp ideological shift after four years under Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, and is expected to reshape the country’s approach to security, economic policy and foreign relations.
