Abelardo de la Espriella, a 48-year-old right-wing lawyer, was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, August 7. The inauguration ceremony took place under tight security at a university in Cali. De la Espriella won a tight runoff election in June, replacing the leftist administration of Gustavo Petro.
This transition marks a sharp pivot to the far right and reflects a broader right-wing wave across Latin America. As an ally of Donald Trump, the new president maintains a tight relationship with the Trump White House, signaling a new political era for Colombia defined by a move toward order, growth, and confrontation.
The president has pledged an iron fist against drug trafficking and guerrilla groups, promising to crack down on armed drug gangs. His domestic agenda includes a moral reconstruction grounded in Catholicism, as well as efforts to revive the oil and gas sector.
To address the economy, de la Espriella has proposed shrinking the state by as much as 40% through significant budget cuts. However, the transition occurs amid concerns over the nation's finances, and the new administration faces the challenge of governing a deeply divided nation.