Abelardo de la Espriella sworn in as Colombia's president for 2026-2030 term

Abelardo de la Espriella officially assumed the presidency of Colombia on August 7, 2026, taking the oath of office for the 2026-2030 term. The investiture ceremony was held at the University Santiago de Cali's USC Arena in Valle del Cauca.

De la Espriella, a 48-year-old lawyer, pledged to faithfully execute the duties of his office, promising to uphold the Constitution and laws of Colombia before the president of Congress, Honorio Henríquez. He then received the presidential sash, marking his transition into power, succeeding Gustavo Petro.

The ceremony was a grand affair, featuring a 21-gun salute from Bogotá and the presence of his family, including his wife Ana Lucía Pineda and their four minor children. Over a thousand national and international guests attended, including notable figures like King Felipe VI of Spain, Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Several former Colombian presidents, including César Gaviria, Andrés Pastrana, Álvaro Uribe, and Iván Duque, were present to witness the change of government. Notably, former presidents Ernesto Samper and Juan Manuel Santos were not invited. Following the ceremony, De la Espriella was scheduled to deliver his first presidential address to military leaders at the Cantón Militar Pichincha.