Colombia's New President Abelardo de la Espriella Sworn In in Cali
Abelardo de la Espriella took office as Colombia's president in Cali, the first such ceremony outside Bogota, pledging a hardline security approach.
Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, August 7, 2026, in a ceremony held in the southwestern city of Cali. The event marked the first time in the country's modern history that a presidential inauguration took place outside the capital, Bogota.
The oath of office was administered at the Arena USC of Santiago de Cali University. Among the dignitaries present were Spain's King Felipe VI, Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, along with leaders and senior officials from several other nations and representatives of international organizations.
De la Espriella, a 48-year-old lawyer, ran as an independent candidate representing the far-right political movement Defenders of the Homeland. His victory was officially confirmed by Colombia's National Electoral Council on June 24 following the final vote count, which showed he won by a narrow margin.
His four-year term will run until August 2030. In his platform, de la Espriella has advocated for a hardline approach to restoring public security and for substantial cuts in public spending.