Colombia's far-right president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has sparked a storm of concern over the country's democratic future following his narrow victory in the presidential election. With a pledge to 'disembowel' the left and eliminate what he terms 'rats and cockroaches', de la Espriella's campaign rhetoric has analysts and activists sounding alarm bells about the potential risks to democratic norms and institutions.
De la Espriella, styled as 'El Tigre' (The Tiger) and an 'outsider', won by a margin of around 250,000 votes out of 41 million, replacing outgoing President Gustavo Petro – Colombia's first and only leftist leader. The far-right candidate has made several contentious promises, including the use of lethal force against protesters and a draconian reduction in the state apparatus by 40%, inspired by Argentina's Javier Milei.
This is not an isolated phenomenon; de la Espriella is part of a broader wave of far-right movements sweeping Latin America. He has openly admired figures such as former US President Donald Trump, who endorsed his campaign, and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele – whose strategies for tackling gangs he intends to emulate in addressing Colombia's long-standing armed conflict.
De la Espriella's proposals have been met with widespread criticism from human rights groups. Ana Bejarano Ricaurte, co-director of the advocacy group El Veinte, warned that Colombia has 'never confronted a threat of this magnitude', citing de la Espriella's 'regressive agenda' on civil and fundamental rights, including anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ stances.
His troubled past also raises concerns. De la Espriella began his career defending paramilitary leaders, and a resurfaced video from 2012 shows him disparaging women accusing an evangelical pastor of sexual abuse – fuelling outrage among progressive voters.
Colombia's neighbours are watching closely as de la Espriella prepares to take office on 7 August. Analysts fear his policies could trigger economic chaos, inadvertently empowering criminal groups by creating power vacuums in regions where the state is already weak. The international community will be monitoring developments closely, given the implications for regional stability and democracy.