The newly elected president of Colombia, Abelardo De La Espriella, delivered his first speech as head of state and outlined the main priorities for the next four years, with a strong commitment to restore order, combat narcoterrorism, reduce public spending, and create better conditions for private investment.
From the Pichincha Military Canton in Cali, the right-wing leader asserted that he came to power to "close a long chapter of national resignation" and proclaimed the beginning of a phase marked by "the recovery of order, authority, and freedom".
During his speech, De La Espriella ordered the Armed Forces and the Police to combat all criminal structures and announced that his administration would compile a list of narcoterrorist organizations.
"The option for dialogue is completely exhausted", he declared, marking a break with the so-called "total peace" policy promoted during the presidency of the leftist Gustavo Petro, which facilitated the proliferation of crime.
Additionally, he announced that he would resume and deepen the eradication of illicit crops through fumigations, along with the construction of mega-prisons and a strengthening of security forces. "The Tiger has arrived and you will know how hard it bites", he warned.
Abelardo de la Espriella gave his first speech as president of Colombia
The radical shift to the right will also extend to the economy. The new president confirmed that he would sign a decree to freeze public spending and anticipated a tax reform that would include the elimination of the wealth tax.
"We need to put our house in order", he stated. He explained that his goal would be to combat evasion while creating a favorable environment for "investment, production, and employment". He also promised to respect the independence of the Bank of the Republic.
In energy matters, he announced that recovering Ecopetrol will be an absolute priority, will again promote the exploration and production of oil and gas, and will advance with the development of "responsible and sustainable fracking". The president accused the previous administration of having financially deteriorated the state oil company.
The fight against corruption will occupy another central place. De La Espriella anticipated the use of artificial intelligence, data analysis, and blockchain to detect irregularities in public administration, in addition to bringing to justice any alleged irregularities found in the outgoing administration.
He also ruled out any attempt to modify institutional rules to perpetuate himself in power. "Four years are more than enough to fulfill the program", he asserted while flatly rejecting a Constituent Assembly and committing to hand over the presidency at the end of his term.
Abelardo de la Espriella with Javier Milei
Finally, the president proposed a "cultural battle" based on family, merit, discipline, individual responsibility, patriotism, and faith, and warned that "education cannot be an instrument of ideological indoctrination".
With his first speech, De La Espriella laid out the shift he intends to impose on Colombia after four years of socialist government under Petro: more authority against crime, austerity in the state, openness to investment, and a cultural agenda openly opposed to the left.
