Abelardo De La Espriella, 48, was inaugurated as Colombia's president on August 7, 2026, after winning the June runoff election. The ceremony occurred in Cali at the Pichincha Battalion military base, where he delivered a 75-minute speech pledging action against drug trafficking, state reduction by up to 40 percent, and revival of the oil and gas sector. His background includes legal representation of clients tied to right-wing paramilitaries and no prior elected office.