This is what Abelardo De La Espriella said in his first speech as president of Colombia
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Instead of delivering his inaugural speech at the USC Arena of the Santiago de Cali University, where he took the oath of office, Abelardo De La Espriella moved to the Pichincha Military Canton, where he spoke to military personnel, as he had wished from the beginning, to "honor the true heroes of the homeland." The new president of Colombia announced on Friday that he will "respect" the independence of the powers in Colombia and promised to maintain a harmonious relationship with Congress, pledging not to call a constituent assembly to reform the Constitution and to hand over the government in four years, the duration of his term. At the same time, he spoke of an economic plan based on austerity, attracting investment, and leveraging natural resources, aiming to restore confidence in the country and make it a "safe and profitable" destination for investors. "Investing in Colombia will once again be a safe and profitable decision for you, business leaders of the homeland and the rest of the world," De La Espriella stated in his first speech as president, delivered at a battalion in Cali, where he assured that his government will seek to recover economic growth, production, exports, and job creation. The new leader stated that the measure aims to "put the house in order" after the increase in spending during the government of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, and maintained that austerity will not fall on the most vulnerable sectors, whose social programs, he said, will be preserved. The government inherits an economy with a fiscal deficit equivalent to 6.4% of GDP in 2025 and a public debt that reached a record of about $373.85 billion at the end of the first half, equivalent to 60.5% of GDP. "No economy thrives when the state spends uncontrollably, discourages investment, loses respect for taxpayers' money, and irresponsibly compromises the future of new generations," he asserted. De La Espriella also announced a structural reform of the tax system to simplify it, combat evasion, and favor investment, production, and employment, confirming that he will eliminate the wealth tax. "We must stop punishing those who invest and generate wealth in our homeland," he stated. In this context, De La Espriella placed the recovery of the state oil company Ecopetrol, Colombia's largest company, among the "definitive and absolute" priorities of his government and defended the use of natural resources as a matter of energy sovereignty. "No country in the world can aspire to a future of prosperity if it deliberately renounces to take advantage of the resources that the creator placed in its territory," he affirmed, followed by the promise that "recovering Ecopetrol will be a definitive and absolute priority" of his government. The president also announced that he will authorize fracking to increase oil and gas reserves: "We will authorize, complying with technical aspects, the development of responsible and sustainable fracking." The president criticized the management of the oil company during Petro's government and stated that the company's profits fell from about $10.136 billion in 2022 to around $500 million last year, a decline that, he said, also harmed Colombians who have investments in the company. The president also promised to respect the independence of the Bank of the Republic and stated that his economic team has been instructed to restore "Colombia's prestige in the international community." "When trust and stability return, investment, employment, growth, and opportunities also arrive," he concluded. Cultural Battle The far-right leader stated that he will wage "a cultural battle" to defend the family as the central axis of society. "No public policy can replace the work that a united family can do for its children and its country. In homes, principles are learned, virtues are cultivated, and citizens are formed. The strength of the family is the strength of Colombia," he said. "The cultural battle is to restore to Colombia the confidence in its foundational principles and values, because the 'miracle homeland' can only be built on a society that respects itself, knows who it is, reconciles with its history, is secure in its values, and is capable of building a future with pride and prosperity," the president insisted. De La Espriella assured that guaranteeing the protection of women and children "constitutes one of the highest duties of the state" and that his government "will not tolerate any form of violence" against them. "No woman can live in fear of violence, no child can grow up deprived of love, care, and the necessary opportunities to develop the talents that God has given them. The full weight of the law will fall on those who dare to mistreat them," he said while assuring that he will implement life sentences for these crimes. He also announced that he will correct "the wrong decisions" that led to a crisis in the health system and expressed his willingness to improve "whatever is necessary" to ensure the well-being of the population. In his speech, De La Espriella stated that the crisis facing the Colombian health system will change under his government, for which he announced a shock plan aimed at speeding up appointments and the delivery of medications. "When a person dies waiting for surgery or an elderly person waits months for their medication, we are not facing a crisis but a deeply human drama," he asserted. Military Honors and Recognition as Supreme Commander De La Espriella received military honors and recognition as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces and the Police at the conclusion of his inaugural speech. The 48-year-old lawyer and defender of the military reviewed the troops to the rhythm of military marches and then observed a minute of silence along with the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police in memory of those fallen in combat. The ceremony continued with the intervention of Monsignor José Roberto Ospina, a member of the military bishopric of Colombia, who during his speech offered prayers for the new Colombian president and his running mate, the vice president of Colombia, José Manuel Restrepo. "Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, patroness of Colombia, cover with your hand and tender love all your beloved Colombian children," the prelate asserted. Despite his closeness to the military, the new Colombian president appeared uncoordinated during his first military march, accompanied by the designated Defense Minister, retired General Jorge Eduardo Mora, and the outgoing commanders of the armed forces. After the military salute, the inauguration ceremony of De La Espriella concluded, lasting four and a half hours. The new president is expected to lead a security council in Cali in the coming hours where he will announce measures to address public order issues in southwestern Colombia, where armed groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), dissidents from the FARC, and drug-trafficking gangs operate.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
