Key Facts
—The man. Abelardo De la Espriella, a combative right-wing lawyer, is Colombia’s president-elect, due to take office in 2026.
—The ultimatum. He has told illegal armed groups they will have roughly one month to surrender to justice once he takes power.
—The setting. He plans to be inaugurated at a military base, the Cantón José Hilario López in Popayán, in the conflict-ridden Cauca region.
—The doctrine. His program promises to end peace talks, restore territorial control and wage a “Plan Colombia II,” including destroying 330,000 hectares of coca.
