Abelardo de la Espriella Sworn In as President of Colombia with Vows of Security Crackdown

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the president of Colombia on Friday in the city of Cali. In a break from the tradition of inaugurations in Bogota, the 48 year old former lawyer and millionaire took office amid ceremonies that combined religious blessings from various faiths with a military address at the Batallón Pichincha. De la Espriella won the June 21 runoff election against Iván Cepeda by a narrow margin of less than one percentage point.

In his first speech, the new president announced a sharp departure from the policies of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. He declared that the option for dialogue with armed groups is completely exhausted, effectively ending the previous administration's peace talks. De la Espriella pledged to relentlessly defeat narco terrorism through the construction of mega prisons, the eradication of coca crops, and a military alliance with the United States and Israel. He also expressed support for joining the Shield of the Americas, a regional anti cartel alliance led by US President Donald Trump. In response, the US State Department announced plans to provide 1 billion dollars in security assistance to the new administration.

On the economic front, the president promised to freeze public spending, eliminate the wealth tax for the rich, and promote fracking. He also recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Following the inauguration, the military reported that FARC dissidents used explosives to destroy a road toll booth near Cali, resulting in light injuries to security guards.

Outlets with a center left lean framed the event as a return to a conservative past marked by religious fervor and military rigor. Center leaning outlets focused more on the strategic shift toward the United States and the specific security promises to eradicate narco terrorism.