Colombian President-elect De la Espriella Vows to Uphold Journalistic Freedom

Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella has pledged to protect journalistic freedom during his term, speaking less than 24 hours before assuming office in Cali.

"The work of journalism in a society is fundamental. Therefore, that journalistic freedom, that freedom of opinion, that freedom of the press, must always be safeguarded because it is a constitutional guarantee. I will always defend free expression, I will defend freedom of the press," De la Espriella stated in a message to the press accredited for his investiture. He added that journalistic activity must be linked to truth and the veracity of facts, defining this as "true journalism."

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The work of journalism in a society is fundamental. Therefore, that journalistic freedom, that freedom of opinion, that freedom of the press, must always be safeguarded because it is a constitutional guarantee. I will always defend free expression, I will defend freedom of the press.

De la Espriella, an ultra-right-wing lawyer, also drew a distinction between genuine politics and mere personal attacks. He asserted that "great politics is measured by liters of water, by kilometers of roads, by health coverage, by opportunities for the most unprotected, and by the presence of the State in all territories."

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that journalistic activity must be tied to the truth, to the veracity of the facts, because that is true journalism, the one that tells what happens with adherence to the truth.

The inauguration ceremony is set to take place at the Arena USC in Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca department. The city has been heavily secured for the occasion. An earlier proposal to hold the event in a military garrison in Popayán, to honor "the true heroes of the homeland" in a region affected by armed conflict, was abandoned due to the risk posed by a potential eruption of the nearby Puracé volcano, which is currently on orange alert.

De la Espriella will succeed President Gustavo Petro, who has not recognized the election results and has vowed to lead opposition and "civil disobedience" against the incoming government.

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great politics is measured by liters of water, by kilometers of roads, by health coverage, by opportunities for the most unprotected, and by the presence of the State in all territories.