The newly proclaimed president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, presented this Friday his mandate as the start of a new stage, focused on the recovery of order, the reinforcement of the authority of the State, and a profound "national regeneration," during his inauguration speech held at the Pichincha Military Canton in Cali.
De la Espriella described his arrival at the Casa de Nariño as the end of a cycle of "national resignation" and the beginning of a project aimed at transforming institutions, reinforcing security, and restoring trust in the economy and in the Colombian State itself.
"The time for the recovery of order, authority, and freedom has begun," he proclaimed before those present, emphasizing that he will exercise the Head of State for all Colombians, including those who did not support his candidacy at the polls.
In this line, he stressed that his Executive will be based on firm principles and called for leaving behind political confrontation. "In the government that begins today, there is no space for intransigence. Quite the opposite. I come with the spirit of calling all my compatriots," he pointed out.
Defense of democracy and the rule of law
The president has placed the protection of the democratic system and the rule of law at the center of his commitments, defending that his electoral victory symbolizes the triumph of the popular will and rejecting any doubts about the legitimacy of the process that brought him to power.
"On June 21, a man or a party did not win; Colombian democracy won, the right of millions of Colombians, of millions of citizens, to freely decide the fate of the nation won," he stated.
He also guaranteed that his Administration will scrupulously respect the rules of the democratic game and warned against any attempt to destabilize the institutions. "In the tiger's government, all the rules of democracy will be respected," he assured.
The new head of State has also claimed a separation of powers based on mutual respect and has committed to maintaining a transparent institutional relationship with Congress, without hidden pacts or negotiations outside of citizen scrutiny.
"There will be no personal agreements or hidden negotiations," he stated, guaranteeing that both the political forces of the Government and those of the opposition will have the same guarantees to participate in democratic life.
Rejection of a constituent assembly and respect for Justice
De la Espriella has dedicated part of his speech to the independence of the Judiciary, assuring that his cabinet will not intervene in the decisions of the courts.
"My Government will not interfere, will never attack or challenge the judges," he declared, making clear his opposition to a possible constitutional reform through a constituent assembly. "In my government, there will be no way for a constituent assembly of any nature," he added.
In this context, he insisted that his mandate will strictly adhere to the constitutional period provided and has ruled out any mechanism to extend his stay in office. "I will govern for the four years that the Constitution orders," he reiterated.
Security as the central axis of the mandate
The issue of security has occupied a prominent place in the ceremony. De la Espriella praised the security policy developed during the Government of Álvaro Uribe and defended the need for a firm response to drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime structures.
"I reaffirm my intention to relentlessly defeat narcoterrorism and all criminal organizations that threaten the freedom of Colombia," he stated.
In coherence with this approach, the new president has indicated that he will give precise instructions to the Armed Forces and the Police to dismantle criminal networks, sending a direct message to their members.
"You have two paths. Submit to the rule of law or face the determined force of the Colombian State and its public force," he warned, before resorting to one of the central slogans of his campaign: "Do not be mistaken, the tiger has arrived and you will know how hard it bites when it comes to defending the Colombian people."
He also pointed out the recovery of territorial control as one of the great challenges of his Government and has committed to exercising the Presidency from the different regions of the country.
"I can promise and I promise that I will govern from the regions," he proclaimed, promising to travel the national territory to ensure that no citizen feels neglected by the Executive.
Fight against corruption and use of new technologies
Corruption has been presented as another of the main enemies to combat. De la Espriella has accused the outgoing Government of an "unacceptable" management of public resources and has announced new instruments to detect and pursue the misuse of State money. "That has ended in the era of the tiger, Colombian people!" he exclaimed.
In this sense, he has promised to incorporate artificial intelligence, data analysis, digital traceability systems, and 'blockchain' technology to reinforce controls over public funds.
He has also advanced that the investigations into the alleged corruption scheme that, according to him, the previous Executive leaves behind will be referred to the judicial authorities and control agencies. Furthermore, he has indicated that he will resort to international cooperation to locate and pursue abroad the assets linked to corruption crimes.
"I will find them and bring them with determination before Justice," he assured.
Economy, austerity, and tax reform
In the economic sphere, the president has placed the recovery of trust as a prerequisite to boost growth and has announced measures to contain public spending.
He has held the previous Government responsible for having skyrocketed debt and spending and has announced that in the coming hours he will sign a decree to freeze spending.
His economic plan also includes a structural reform of the tax system aimed, as he has explained, at simplifying the tax model, combating fraud, and promoting investment, production, and employment.
Among the highlighted measures is the elimination of the wealth tax. "We must stop punishing those who invest and generate wealth in our homeland," he has defended, committing at the same time to maintain aid directed to the most vulnerable sectors and to prioritize informal workers to facilitate their access to credit and the formal economy.
Foreign policy and vision of "Miracle Homeland"
In international matters, De la Espriella has promised to recover Colombia's prominence in Ibero-America and strengthen ties with countries that share its democratic principles.
"Our country will be the first to raise its voice to unambiguously condemn all forms of totalitarianism, dictatorship, oppression, and political persecution," he has expressed.
It has also announced a strengthened cooperation against transnational criminal organizations and their financial networks, proposing the signing of the so-called 'Shield of the Americas', designed to enhance the exchange of information and collaboration among States in the face of threats to regional security.
In the final stretch of his intervention, De la Espriella has appealed to a vision of Colombia based on the recovery of trust, effort, and national unity, under the concept of "Miracle Homeland" that has marked his campaign. "That ideal will be the result of honest work, of defended freedom," he has stated.