Colombian President-elect De la Esprilla was sworn in on the 7th at a university stadium in Cali, in southwestern Colombia, officially beginning his four-year presidential term.
Heads of state, senior government officials, and representatives of international organizations from countries such as Spain, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile attended the ceremony. With the inauguration of this far-right ally of Trump, Colombia's political trajectory has shifted sharply to the right.
48-year-old De la Esprilla is a professional lawyer who advocates for a tough stance on public security and drastic cuts to government spending.
At the inauguration ceremony, he vowed to wage war against drug lords and establish a close new alliance with the United States.
He stated that the government would soon announce a list of drug-related terrorist organizations and intensify the crackdown on drug-related crimes. The new administration will prioritize the restoration of national security and authority, instructing the armed forces and police to target all criminal groups and implementing measures such as eradicating illegal crops to combat drug-related crime.
He pointed out that the new government will intensify anti-corruption efforts, promote economic growth, and improve the conditions of healthcare, education, and rural development. Colombia will also strengthen cooperation with other countries in combating transnational organized crime and in areas such as intelligence, security, and justice.
On June 24, the Colombian National Electoral Council confirmed, based on the official audit of the ballots, that independent candidate De la Esprilla, from the far-right political group “Defenders of the Fatherland,” was elected as Colombia’s new president by a narrow margin, with his term lasting until August 2030.
Following the victories of right-wing camps in countries like Chile and Costa Rica, where promises of increased security led to electoral wins, De la Esprilla’s victory marks another triumph for the Latin American right wing.