Colombia's de la Espriella Takes Office, Vowing 40% Spending Cuts and Armed Group Crackdown
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 8
Colombia's de la Espriella Takes Office, Vowing 40% Spending Cuts and Armed Group Crackdown
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 8
Summary
Abelardo de la Espriella, 48, was sworn in Friday in Cali rather than Bogota, using the conflict-hit city to signal a tougher security doctrine and declaring dialogue with armed groups "completely exhausted."
His inaugural agenda pairs a promised offensive against dissident FARC factions, the ELN and the Clan del Golfo with plans to cut government spending by as much as 40% and revive oil and gas through fracking.
Heavy security surrounded the ceremony after recent bombing fears, and de la Espriella went straight to a nearby military battalion to underscore support for the armed forces.
The shift breaks sharply with Gustavo Petro's negotiated-peace approach and comes despite protests in Cali, Bogota and Barranquilla after a close, polarizing election Petro initially challenged.
Washington quickly backed the new course, with the US State Department outlining a $1 billion security assistance package pending congressional approval as Colombia joins a broader rightward swing in Latin America.