Colombia's De la Espriella promises tough stance and liberal shift

Abelardo De la Espriella commenced his presidency in Cali, promising a significant right-wing turn for Colombia after the government of Gustavo Petro. The 48-year-old lawyer and businessman, who holds Colombian, U.S., and Italian nationalities, declared an end to the "total peace" policy and announced a shift towards liberal economics and conservative security measures.

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The time for the recovery of order and authority has begun.

Dubbed "El Tigre," De la Espriella, who openly supports Trump and positioned himself as an anti-system outsider, has already initiated changes within the prison system, transferring approximately one hundred inmates to maximum-security facilities. He also plans to issue a new list of narcoterrorist groups, signaling an intensification of military operations. His administration will prioritize combating cocaine by focusing on eradication and aerial fumigation with updated technologies, rejecting what he termed "manipulated maps."

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We will fight every criminal structure.

Economically, De la Espriella's agenda includes freezing public spending and enacting a tax reform to eliminate wealth taxes, stating, "Success should not be taxed, but conditions for entrepreneurship should be created." Energy security is also a priority, with plans to revive Ecopetrol and permit "responsible and sustainable fracking." Internationally, Colombia will adopt a pro-Western stance, strengthening ties with Washington and countries that share democratic values, while refusing to "ideologize" foreign policy. The U.S. has announced a $1 billion aid package for security and economic policies, reinforcing the new Bogotá-Washington axis.

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The choice of dialogue is exhausted.