Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as President of Colombia

Abelardo de la Espriella was officially inaugurated as President of Colombia for the 2026-2030 term during a ceremony held in Cali, attended by leaders from several countries, including Javier Milei from Argentina, Daniel Noboa from Ecuador, and José Antonio Kast from Chile, as well as King Felipe VI of Spain.

The inauguration was marked by strict security measures. The event took place in front of a decisive quorum in the Congress of the Republic, making De la Espriella the 43rd president in Colombian republican history.

In his first speech, De la Espriella emphasized his intention to implement a tough policy against drug trafficking, mentioning the construction of megajails and tax reforms. He stated that the option for dialogue with narco-terrorist groups is now exhausted and announced plans to strengthen the Armed Forces.

Regarding economic issues, Vice President José Manuel Restrepo warned of a significant shortfall in the budget for 2027, presenting immediate economic challenges for the new administration.

During the event, Congresswoman Jennifer Pedraza initially attended but withdrew from the ceremony, citing discomfort with the remarks made.

Additionally, as part of the inauguration process, new cabinet appointments were announced, including Elsa Noguera as head of one department, and the appointment of a new Deputy Minister of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Transport, who has experience in the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure.