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| Colombia’s new President Abelardo De La Espriella salute |
Colombia’s New President Pledges Crime Crackdown and Spending Cuts
BOGOTA/CALI — August 7, 2026
Colombia’s new President Abelardo De La Espriella took office on Friday, promising a tougher campaign against armed groups and drug trafficking while seeking to reduce public spending and strengthen the economy.
The 48-year-old right-wing lawyer, who has never previously held elected office, won June’s presidential runoff after campaigning on promises to improve security, reduce the size of the state and expand Colombia’s oil and gas industry. He is also an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking after his inauguration, De La Espriella said criminal and armed groups must either accept Colombian law or face a stronger response from the country’s security forces. He said opportunities for peace talks with armed groups had been exhausted.
The president also promised to intensify efforts against coca cultivation, including the use of aerial herbicides that his government says would not harm people or the environment. He said Colombia would also join the Shield of the Americas program created by Trump.
On the economy, De La Espriella said his government would freeze public spending and introduce tax changes designed to simplify the tax system, encourage investment and support employment. At the same time, he pledged to maintain popular social programs introduced or expanded under his predecessor, leftist President Gustavo Petro.
De La Espriella also wants to increase oil and gas exploration, including what he described as responsible and sustainable fracking. He said Colombia needed to strengthen its energy reserves and promised to support state-owned oil company Ecopetrol.
The new administration faces significant financial constraints. Government officials estimate the fiscal deficit at between 7% and 8% of gross domestic product, while public debt limits how quickly spending can increase. De La Espriella's plans to simplify taxes and reduce some taxes could also put pressure on government revenue.
Investors have responded positively to his market-oriented economic plans, but analysts expect many of his proposals to face obstacles in Congress. The legislature is divided, meaning major changes will likely require negotiations and could be reduced from the president's original proposals.
Security and anti-corruption measures are expected to be among the administration's main priorities during its first 100 days. Analysts say the government may initially focus on policies the president can implement directly while working to build wider political support for more substantial reforms.
De La Espriella has blamed the previous administration for the growth of armed groups and has made public security a central part of his political agenda. His victory over leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda marked another shift toward the political right in Latin America, where concerns about crime and weak economies have helped conservative candidates gain support.
Cepeda, who has not accepted the new president's victory, led a demonstration in Barranquilla on Friday. He said the opposition would defend democracy and called for peaceful civil disobedience.
Before taking office, De La Espriella met foreign leaders including the king of Spain and the presidents of Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay and Panama. The U.S. delegation at the inauguration was led by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The new president has appointed former finance minister Jose Manuel Restrepo as vice president, while other senior officials include Omar Bula as foreign minister, retired Major General Jorge Eduardo Mora as defense minister, Maria Arboleda as energy minister and Miguel Gomez as finance minister.
De La Espriella's government now faces the challenge of turning its campaign promises into policy while managing security concerns, high public debt and pressure to maintain social programs. His first months in office are expected to test whether his proposed economic and security changes can gain enough political support to move forward.
