Colombia's New Right-Wing President Abelardo de la Espriella to Be Sworn In, Shunning Bogotá

Abelardo de la Espriella, a 48-year-old criminal defence lawyer and former US citizen, will be sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, 7 August, in Cali, not the capital Bogotá. His victory marks a decisive shift to the radical right, echoing leaders like Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Nayib Bukele. De la Espriella, who lived in Miami and donated to the Republican Party, campaigned on cutting state spending, abandoning the 2016 peace accords with FARC, restoring ties with Israel, and promoting traditional values. He has vowed not to move into the presidential palace, instead converting it into a museum and governing from Barranquilla, where he resides. His vice-president has already met with Argentina's Milei and visited the White House in mid-July to pledge cooperation on fighting organised crime. The outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, has urged supporters to mobilise against potential reversals of his government's achievements, raising the prospect of protests. Colombia faces significant challenges: a fiscal shortfall of about $30bn (€26bn), 30,000 armed group members controlling rural areas, and a severe El Niño threatening power blackouts. De la Espriella's inauguration will be attended by Milei, and his victory has been welcomed by the White House. The country now has a highly organised left-wing opposition for the first time.