Colombia greets Abelardo de la Espriella in a state of political tension
The South American country is moving from a left-wing government, led by Gustavo Petro, to a right-wing one, as has happened in much of the American continent.
Every four years, August 7th is a very special day in Colombia: a public holiday in memory of the battle that sealed the victory of the independence fighters over the royalists in the wars of independence is the moment when a new leader arrives in a country with a long presidential tradition. In 2026, it is also the day when the left hands over power that had eluded it for decades, and when it is received by a president with no previous political experience who will start a government that has promised to change Colombian politics: Abelardo de la Espriella, the histrionic criminal lawyer who surprised in the May elections and beat the continuity candidate in the June runoff.
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- Colombia’s left presents evidence suggesting De la Espriella won through fraud colombiareports.com
- US pledges $1 billion security aid to Colombia as Trump-endorsed president takes office france24.com
- Colombia's far-right president Abelardo de la Espriella takes office, promising break with tradition lemonde.fr
- Trump ally de la Espriella sworn in as Colombia president punchng.com
- US announces US$1bil security package for Colombia freemalaysiatoday.com
- Abelardo de la Espriella turns his inauguration into a right-wing summit: “Colombia, from now on, ceases to be a pariah” elpais.com
- Colombia: Trump ally De la Espriella takes office dw.com
