Colombia’s De la Espriella Takes Power, Vows Crime Crackdown

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s president Friday, marking the start of a conservative government that promises a sharp break with Gustavo Petro’s leftist administration as concerns over the nation’s finances and increased violence cloud the transition.

The far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president of Colombia Friday amid tight security at a ceremony at a university in Cali.

BOGOTA, Aug 7 - Right-wing lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella is set to be sworn in as Colombia's new president on Friday after pledging a hard line on security, drug trafficking and the economy.

An ally of Donald Trump, the new president, whose inauguration is scheduled for Friday, August 7, has pledged budget cuts, a 'moral reconstruction' grounded in Catholicism, and an 'iron fist' against guerrilla groups and drug trafficking.

An ally of Donald Trump, the new president, whose inauguration is scheduled for Friday, August 7, has pledged budget cuts, a 'moral reconstruction' grounded in Catholicism, and an 'iron fist' against guerrilla groups and drug trafficking.

Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as president of Colombia on Friday at a ceremony held at the Santiago de Cali University, outside Bogotá and without the attendance of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, in a handover marked by confrontation between the two men.

Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella takes office August 8, vowing to launch a war on drug gangs and cosy up to the United States. The former lawyer won June's run-off election by less than a percentage point. He's a right-wing populist in the mould of El Salvador's Nayib Bukele and Argentina's Javier Mil

Outgoing president of Colombia Gustavo Petro held a press conference on Monday in which he again claimed, against all public evidence, that the Colombian presidential election was "stolen" by President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, warning that "civil war" could erupt if the normal inauguration process continues.

The two sides explored new avenues to enhance collaboration, particularly in the air domain, as part of efforts to further strengthen the existing bilateral partnership