Colombia's far-right president Abelardo de la Espriella takes office, promising break with tradition

On Friday, Colombia marked the handover of presidential power from Gustavo Petro to Abelardo de la Espriella. The 48-year-old ultradirect politician, who emerged victorious in the June 21 elections against left-leaning senator Iván Cepeda, received the presidential sash during a ceremony typically held at the National Capitol. For the first time, the incoming executive has moved the transfer ceremony to Cali, the country's third-largest city.

Members of Congress gathered in the capital of Valle del Cauca to witness the handover, with noticeable absence of legislators from the Pacto Histórico, Petro's party. The majority of this faction will also be present in Cali, engaging in popular demonstrations, while Cepeda led another such event in Barranquilla. The legislative session kicked off around 2:40 PM with a call for mandatory attendance for all Congressional meetings, and the new president made his arrival at the location around 4:15 PM.