De la Espriella sworn in as Colombia’s new president

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s new president in Cali, under tight security measures. The inaugural ceremony, held in the University of Santiago de Cali theater, was attended by King Felipe VI of Spain, high-ranking Latin American leaders, and nearly 60 ambassadors. After assuming office, de la Espriella visited the Pichincha Battalion to take command of the armed forces and deliver his maiden presidential address.

He assured the nation that he would be a crucial component of Colombia’s progress and pledged that his four-year term would see "authority felt throughout the country." De la Espriella also affirmed that no one would be targeted for their viewpoints, while simultaneously warning former President Gustavo Petro's regime that he would work with "other States," hinting at potential extraditions.

Both events were boycotted by Petro’s leftist Historic Pact party, which organized protests in Cali, Bogota, and Barranquilla. In Barranquilla, Senator Ivan Cepeda criticized de la Espriella for his US citizenship and alleged ties to the US Department of Justice, alleging that he will face pressure from the US government and agencies to allow foreign intervention in Colombia.

The senator, who lost the elections by a margin of less than one percent, is seeking a court order to invalidate the electoral results, and his supporters continue to oppose de la Espriella’s legitimacy.