Abelardo de la Espriella

Money Moves

Newly inaugurated; his government faces the rate hike

Colombia's central bank held its benchmark rate at 12.25% on October 30 in a 4-3 vote, with three directors pushing for another quarter-point hike. The board had raised the rate from 12% on September 30, the first policy decision of President Abelardo De La Espriella's term.

Updated 6 days ago

Rule Changes

In office since August 2026

Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem on October 14. It is the tenth mission in the city and the largest from Latin America. The move came a day after Colombia and Israel restored their free trade agreement.

Updated Oct 27

Force in Play

As of October 2026: Chaired Security Council in Santa Marta; armed strike ended, heightened security remains

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered the militarization of Santa Marta on September 22 after members of the Conquering Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN) shot at shops and burned vehicles. The attacks were reprisals for a security operation that killed 13 group members, including a senior commander.

Updated Oct 6

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: In office since August 2026

Colombia's outgoing government banned new mining and oil projects across 483,000 square kilometers of Amazon on August 4. The new administration of Abelardo de la Espriella has since repealed 10 other mining restrictions and says it wants to lift oil output to 1 million barrels a day.

Updated Sep 14

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: In office since August 2026

Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, signed a decree on September 8 that ends a general suspension on permits to carry firearms in public, a ban in place since 2015. The decree took effect the next day, restoring validity to individual carry permits held by citizens who met legal requirements.

Updated Sep 9

Built World

As of September 2026: Managing recovery after declaring an economic, social and ecological emergency

At 7:34 a.m. on August 10, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in western Colombia's Chocó department. It was the strongest quake Colombia has recorded this century. The official death toll has reached 331.

Updated Sep 3

Rule Changes

As of June 2026: President-elect of Colombia; to be inaugurated August 7, 2026

Colombia's 10-month election cycle ended June 21 when conservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella defeated leftist senator Iván Cepeda in the presidential runoff, 49.65% to 48.70% — a margin of fewer than 250,000 votes. His 12.9 million votes set a record for any Colombian presidential candidate. He takes office August 7.

Updated Jun 22