Abelardo de la Espriella has been sworn in as Colombia’s president, ushering in a drastic shift toward hardline security measures and free-market reforms in a country long fractured by internal conflict. Breaking sharply with presidential tradition, the 48-year-old right-wing lawyer and businessman took the oath of office in Cali—a city in the nation's volatile southwest—rather than the capital, Bogota, signaling an immediate focus on Colombia's most contested regions.
Known to supporters as “El Tigre” (The Tiger), de la Espriella built his career and fortune in the private sector before launching a self-financed campaign that upended the political establishment. His ascent marks a decisive ideological reversal from outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro, whose strategy of negotiated peace de la Espriella dismissed as a failure. Declaring that "the option of dialogue is completely exhausted," the new leader pledged to relentlessly defeat narco-terrorist networks and re-establish state authority.
Beyond security, de la Espriella outlined an economic agenda centered on fiscal austerity and energy expansion. He promised to cut government spending by up to 40 percent while revitalizing the oil and gas sector through sustainable fracking and the strengthening of state energy firm Ecopetrol. Addressing business leaders, he framed his administration as a partner in private investment, warning against the decline of proven energy reserves.
De la Espriella’s election extends a series of conservative victories across Latin America and marks a foreign policy shift toward closer ties with Washington. Proposing to join the US-backed "Shield of the Americas" anti-drug coalition, his administration has already received support from the United States, which announced plans for a $1 billion security assistance package pending congressional approval. He also pledged to restore diplomatic relations with Israel while severing ties with Cuba and Nicaragua.
The ceremony proceeded under strict security and military presence amid persistent political polarization. While international guests—including Spain’s King Felipe VI, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and regional allies such as Argentina's Javier Milei—attended the event, public demonstrations broke out in Cali, Bogota, and Barranquilla. As de la Espriella begins his presidency, fulfilling his broad promises of stability and economic turnaround will pose a significant test in a deeply divided country.