New Colombia president pledges robust fight against crime, fiscal austerity in maiden speech
Colombia's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in on Friday, using his inaugural speech to pledge a vigorous fight against drug trafficking, as well as austerity measures to restore confidence in the economy.
De La Espriella, 48, won June's runoff on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40% and revive the oil and gas sector. An ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, he represented people with ties to right-wing paramilitaries during his time as a lawyer. De La Espriella has never before held elected office.
'I have come to close a long chapter of national resignation and, together with the people, embark on the most profound transformation of our destiny,' De La Espriella said at the Pichincha Battalion military base in Cali, after being sworn in at a nearby university auditorium with dignitaries and officials. 'I send a firm message to the Colombian people: the time has come to restore order, authority, and freedom.'
ELECTION PART OF RIGHTWARD SHIFT IN LATIN AMERICA 'Members of criminal gangs and narco-terrorist groups have two choices: submit to the rule of law or face the determined response of the Colombian state and its security forces,' the new president told assembled troops at the base during a 75-minute speech, adding the option of peace talks with armed groups had been 'completely exhausted.'
De La Espriella's election was part of a rightward shift rippling across Latin America. In Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama, weak economies and rising crime have reshaped voter priorities, allowing once-fringe hard-right candidates to gain traction by promising crackdowns amid a global rise of right-wing nationalism.
De La Espriella could push through some of his policies via decree, but analysts say many of his proposals will require backing from a divided congress and could be watered down in negotiations.
The new president vowed to 'definitively eradicate the scourge of illicit crops,' saying he would use aerial herbicides that do not harm human health or the environment to destroy coca, the plant used to make cocaine.
In one of his first acts as president, Colombia will join the Shield of the Americas program founded by Trump, he said.
He pledged to freeze public spending and pursue tax reform to simplify the country's payment regime and boost investment and employment, while preserving popular social programs, some put in place by his predecessor, leftist Gustavo Petro.
'I want to tell Colombia’s business leaders — large, medium-sized and small — that this government will be your partner in investing in Colombia. Once again, it will be a safe and profitable decision for you,' De La Espriella said.
He pledged to expand oil and gas exploration, including through 'the development of responsible and sustainable fracking'.
'We cannot resign ourselves to having proven oil reserves that will last only a few more years, nor can we accept the decline of our gas reserves,' he said, adding his government will work to strengthen state-run oil company Ecopetrol.
De La Espriella was the first Colombian president in modern history to be sworn in at a location other than the country's congressional building in the capital Bogota.
Reuters
Colombia's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in on Friday, using his inaugural speech to pledge a vigorous fight against drug trafficking, as well as austerity measures to restore confidence in the economy.
De La Espriella, 48, won June's runoff on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40% and revive the oil and gas sector. An ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, he represented people with ties to right-wing paramilitaries during his time as a lawyer. De La Espriella has never before held elected office.
'I have come to close a long chapter of national resignation and, together with the people, embark on the most profound transformation of our destiny,' De La Espriella said at the Pichincha Battalion military base in Cali, after being sworn in at a nearby university auditorium with dignitaries and officials. 'I send a firm message to the Colombian people: the time has come to restore order, authority, and freedom.'
ELECTION PART OF RIGHTWARD SHIFT IN LATIN AMERICA 'Members of criminal gangs and narco-terrorist groups have two choices: submit to the rule of law or face the determined response of the Colombian state and its security forces,' the new president told assembled troops at the base during a 75-minute speech, adding the option of peace talks with armed groups had been 'completely exhausted.'
De La Espriella's election was part of a rightward shift rippling across Latin America. In Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama, weak economies and rising crime have reshaped voter priorities, allowing once-fringe hard-right candidates to gain traction by promising crackdowns amid a global rise of right-wing nationalism.
De La Espriella could push through some of his policies via decree, but analysts say many of his proposals will require backing from a divided congress and could be watered down in negotiations.
The new president vowed to 'definitively eradicate the scourge of illicit crops,' saying he would use aerial herbicides that do not harm human health or the environment to destroy coca, the plant used to make cocaine.
In one of his first acts as president, Colombia will join the Shield of the Americas program founded by Trump, he said.
He pledged to freeze public spending and pursue tax reform to simplify the country's payment regime and boost investment and employment, while preserving popular social programs, some put in place by his predecessor, leftist Gustavo Petro.
'I want to tell Colombia’s business leaders — large, medium-sized and small — that this government will be your partner in investing in Colombia. Once again, it will be a safe and profitable decision for you,' De La Espriella said.
He pledged to expand oil and gas exploration, including through 'the development of responsible and sustainable fracking'.
'We cannot resign ourselves to having proven oil reserves that will last only a few more years, nor can we accept the decline of our gas reserves,' he said, adding his government will work to strengthen state-run oil company Ecopetrol.
De La Espriella was the first Colombian president in modern history to be sworn in at a location other than the country's congressional building in the capital Bogota.
Reuters
Colombia's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in on Friday, using his inaugural speech to pledge a vigorous fight against drug trafficking, as well as austerity measures to restore confidence in the economy.
De La Espriella, 48, won June's runoff on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40% and revive the oil and gas sector. An ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, he represented people with ties to right-wing paramilitaries during his time as a lawyer. De La Espriella has never before held elected office.
'I have come to close a long chapter of national resignation and, together with the people, embark on the most profound transformation of our destiny,' De La Espriella said at the Pichincha Battalion military base in Cali, after being sworn in at a nearby university auditorium with dignitaries and officials. 'I send a firm message to the Colombian people: the time has come to restore order, authority, and freedom.'
ELECTION PART OF RIGHTWARD SHIFT IN LATIN AMERICA 'Members of criminal gangs and narco-terrorist groups have two choices: submit to the rule of law or face the determined response of the Colombian state and its security forces,' the new president told assembled troops at the base during a 75-minute speech, adding the option of peace talks with armed groups had been 'completely exhausted.'
De La Espriella's election was part of a rightward shift rippling across Latin America. In Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama, weak economies and rising crime have reshaped voter priorities, allowing once-fringe hard-right candidates to gain traction by promising crackdowns amid a global rise of right-wing nationalism.
De La Espriella could push through some of his policies via decree, but analysts say many of his proposals will require backing from a divided congress and could be watered down in negotiations.
The new president vowed to 'definitively eradicate the scourge of illicit crops,' saying he would use aerial herbicides that do not harm human health or the environment to destroy coca, the plant used to make cocaine.
In one of his first acts as president, Colombia will join the Shield of the Americas program founded by Trump, he said.
He pledged to freeze public spending and pursue tax reform to simplify the country's payment regime and boost investment and employment, while preserving popular social programs, some put in place by his predecessor, leftist Gustavo Petro.
'I want to tell Colombia’s business leaders — large, medium-sized and small — that this government will be your partner in investing in Colombia. Once again, it will be a safe and profitable decision for you,' De La Espriella said.
He pledged to expand oil and gas exploration, including through 'the development of responsible and sustainable fracking'.
'We cannot resign ourselves to having proven oil reserves that will last only a few more years, nor can we accept the decline of our gas reserves,' he said, adding his government will work to strengthen state-run oil company Ecopetrol.
De La Espriella was the first Colombian president in modern history to be sworn in at a location other than the country's congressional building in the capital Bogota.
Reuters
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New Colombia president pledges robust fight against crime, fiscal austerity in maiden speech
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