De la Espriella to assume presidency in atypical ceremony; Petro bids farewell after first left-wing government experience

Abelardo de la Espriella is set to be inaugurated as Colombia's president for the 2026-2030 term this Friday in Cali, a ceremony notable for being the first held outside the capital, Bogotá. The event is also expected to be attended by King Felipe VI of Spain and at least eight Latin American presidents.

De la Espriella stated that his inauguration will be "much more than a ceremony" and will serve as the "first demonstration that decentralization ceases to be a discourse and becomes a reality." He emphasized that his government project "is built from the regions, because when the regions prosper, Colombia prospers." Cali, the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, has been secured for the occasion. An earlier proposal to hold the ceremony at a military base in Popayán, to honor "the true heroes of the homeland" in a conflict-affected area, was discarded due to the risk of an eruption from the nearby Puracé volcano.

De la Espriella will succeed Gustavo Petro, whose leftist party, Pacto Histórico, has called for peaceful protests in Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Cali. Petro has not recognized De la Espriella's victory and has vowed to lead the opposition and "civil disobedience" against the new ultraconservative lawyer's government. No congress members from Pacto Histórico are expected to attend the inauguration.

The presidential sash will be presented to the new Colombian leader by the President of Congress, Senator Honorio Henríquez, during a legislative session at the Arena USC of the Universidad Santiago de Cali. This modern multipurpose complex can accommodate over 2,300 people and features extensive parking, a helipad, advanced sound and lighting systems, and high-definition LED screens. De la Espriella described the event as "austere" and highlighted its economic impact on Cali, estimating it at 10 billion pesos (approximately $3.1 million USD) due to anticipated boosts in the hotel, gastronomic, tourism, logistics, commercial, and service sectors.