Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella Sworn In as Colombia’s President

In a departure from tradition, conservative Abelardo de la Espriella assumed the presidency of Colombia in Cali, a city facing volatility due to illegal armed groups. This move highlights his firm stance against these groups. De la Espriella, aged 48, follows Gustavo Petro, prevailing in a closely contested runoff election against Sen. Iván Cepeda, Petro’s ally.

De la Espriella, lacking previous public office experience, positioned himself as an outsider. He financed his campaign through wealth accumulated as a lawyer and businessman. The inauguration, held in a university auditorium with Congress attendance, signifies a further shift to the right in the region. Notable attendees included King Felipe VI of Spain, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and several Latin American presidents, such as Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, and Chile’s José Antonio Kast.

Post-ceremony, de la Espriella plans to visit a military battalion in Cali. His aim is to uplift troop morale and issue a stern warning to local armed groups that they must surrender or be designated as “military targets.” Known as “El Tigre,” de la Espriella promises to address Colombia’s persistent violence by ending negotiations with armed groups, labeling existing peace efforts as failures.

Security was a primary concern during the inauguration. Authorities established numerous checkpoints to inspect vehicles for potential threats.

Illegal activities, including drug trafficking and illegal mining, are fought over by groups such as dissident factions of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Clan del Golfo cartel, and the National Liberation Army guerrillas.

Impact on the Region

Holding dual Colombian-American citizenship, de la Espriella garnered support from U.S. President Donald Trump amid rising regional concerns over crime, immigration, and the economy.

“His ascent will strengthen the rightward tilt across Latin America and form a conservative bloc against a diminishing number of leftist governments,” stated Glaeldys González, an analyst with the International Crisis Group for the Andes, to the AP.

De la Espriella plans to align Colombia with the “Shield of the Americas,” a coalition to combat drug trafficking born from a summit organized by Trump in March. He also disclosed plans to rekindle diplomatic relations with Israel and sever ties with Cuba and Nicaragua, calling them “tyrannies.”

Petro’s Opposition

De la Espriella will confront strong opposition from Petro, who initially rejected the election results, alleging fraud through manipulated tally sheets. These accusations were invalidated by international observers and Colombia’s electoral authorities. Despite earlier claims, Petro accepted the electoral outcome as he exited the presidential office.

Petro, who abstained from the ceremony, aims to remain a formidable opponent, said political analyst Sergio Guzmán. Petro encouraged social movements in the southwest to form “people’s militias” for self-defense. He also called for preparations for a general strike if efforts to imprison him post-presidency transpire.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Petro was labeled a “priority target,” as reported in March.

Petro’s calls, coupled with de la Espriella’s uncompromising approach, increase the probability of confrontations or tougher responses from authorities during demonstrations, remarked Andrés Macías, a conflict and peace researcher at Externado University.

In Cali, where Petro holds substantial support and where the majority backed Cepeda, social and student groups protested. Protests also occurred in Bogota and Barranquilla.

“We are defending dignity, resisting, and making it clear that de la Espriella did not win here,” stated Sebastián Ocampo, 25, while protesting in Puerto Resistencia, a Cali residential area pivotal in the 2021 anti-government protests.

Amanda Castro, a 29-year-old merchant in southern Cali, commented, “There are very divided opinions in Cali…we are just hoping the demonstrations will remain peaceful.”

For further coverage of Latin America, visit AP’s Latin America section.