President-elect De la Espriella holds first cabinet meeting in Barranquilla

Colombian President-elect Abelardo De la Espriella has initiated his incoming administration with a decisive first cabinet meeting held in Barranquilla, signaling his commitment to immediate action. "There is no time to lose," De la Espriella stated, as he gathered 11 designated ministers and the vice president-elect at his law firm's offices in the northern coastal city. The meeting, which began in the late afternoon, saw ministers arriving between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., with many expressing a shared goal of "working for a better country."

The choice of Barranquilla for this crucial summit serves a dual purpose: to address the pressing challenges facing the new government and to send a message against political centralism. This is particularly significant given the lack of a direct transition process with the outgoing government, which has reportedly refused to acknowledge De la Espriella's victory. The incoming administration is thus working to gather information and prepare its portfolios independently.

Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char made a brief appearance, expressing his pleasure at hosting the event and emphasizing his commitment to collaborating for a "better government and a better city." While not part of the cabinet meeting itself, his presence underscored the regional focus of De la Espriella's early actions. The president-elect has already assigned specific tasks, including to the future Minister of Defense, General (r) Jorge Eduardo Mora, focusing on the country's security issues, a key campaign promise.

This proactive approach, beginning before the official inauguration, highlights De la Espriella's strategy to hit the ground running. The meeting is expected to outline the main challenges the new administration will face and assign responsibilities to ensure a prepared and effective start to governance, particularly in critical areas like national security.