Abelardo de la Espriella sworn in as Colombia president, pledges shift from Gustavo Petro policies

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president of Colombia on Friday, according to Zero Hedge, in a transition described by the outlet as part of a broader right-leaning political change in the region. The report characterizes De la Espriella as “Trump-backed” and says he outlined an agenda aimed at reversing key elements of the policies pursued during former President Gustavo Petro’s tenure.

At the ceremony and in early remarks reported by Zero Hedge, De la Espriella said he would pursue a reversal of what the outlet describes as Petro’s “socialist agenda,” and he tied the shift to changes he said would strengthen law and order. The report also attributes to De la Espriella a commitment to restore domestic enforcement priorities and to focus on public safety.

On economic policy, Zero Hedge reports that the new president pledged to move Colombia toward a “free market economy,” framing the approach as a departure from Petro-era policies. The report does not provide additional fiscal details, legislative steps, or timelines beyond the intention to change course once in office.

In foreign policy, the report says De la Espriella pledged to restore relations with the United States. The account links the foreign-policy shift to the same broader platform described by Zero Hedge as supported by President Donald Trump’s administration, though it does not cite a specific White House action or agreement in connection with De la Espriella’s inauguration.

The report also frames the transition in political terms, describing De la Espriella as taking power as part of a “right-wing wave” across the Americas. It does not, however, provide documentation of election results, vote counts, or the full legal and constitutional timetable for the change in government.

Because the available record for this story is limited to a single secondary outlet, several key elements remain unverified here, including the precise wording of De la Espriella’s inaugural pledges, whether any cabinet nominations or executive decrees were issued immediately after the swearing-in, and the specific Petro-era measures he intends to target first.

Next steps, as reflected in the report, will likely hinge on how De la Espriella’s administration translates campaign-era promises into implementable actions, including whether it seeks congressional changes for economic policy and public-security enforcement, and whether it indicates concrete steps toward a revised posture with Washington.