08.08.2026 06:40
After the election on June 21 in Colombia, a transition crisis occurred. Gustavo Petro, who did not recognize Abelardo de la Espriella's victory, left the Presidential Palace without handing over power, saying, 'There is no president to whom I will hand over the office,' while de la Espriella was sworn in in Cali and began his term for the 2026-2030 period.
Gustavo Petro, whose 4-year term in Colombia ended, left the Presidential Palace Casa de Narino without handing over the presidency to Abelardo de la Espriella, who won the presidential election on June 21 and whose victory he stated he did not recognize.
Petro gave a speech on the palace stairs, dressed in white, holding the hand of his young daughter Antonella.
Thanking his team, family, and Colombians, Petro said, "Goodbye forever. Freedom and life. Always, always, and always. Thank you for accompanying me; thank you to the soldiers for protecting me. I think you leave in a better state than when I took office. So long live free Colombia!"
Petro was seen off with a military ceremony held in the gardens of Casa de Narino, along with his cabinet team.
PETRO: THERE IS NO PRESIDENT TO WHOM I WILL HAND OVER
In a statement on his X account, Petro used striking words directed at de la Espriella.
Petro said, "They said I would stay in Casa de Narino and close the Congress of the Republic. Now I am leaving that palace; it was someone else who closed the Congress of the Republic, and there is no president to whom I will hand over the duties."
PROTEST AGAINST ELECTION RESULTS
It was reported that some figures from the ruling Historic Alliance participated in a protest held in Barranquilla due to their refusal to recognize the electoral victory of the right-wing de la Espriella and their claims of election fraud.
It was shared that Senator Ivan Cepeda, the ruling party's candidate, was also in Barranquilla to support the demonstration.
DE LA ESPRIELLA WAS SWORN IN IN CALI
After Petro left the Presidential Palace without handing over the duties, the right-wing 48-year-old Abelardo de la Espriella, who won the second round of the election on June 21, was sworn in and began his term at a ceremony held in Cali.
At the ceremony held in the USC Arena Hall of Santiago de Cali University in Cali, the country's third-largest city, Congress President Honorio Henriquez presented the presidential sash to de la Espriella.
Thus, de la Espriella officially assumed office for the 2026-2030 period.
In his inaugural speech, the new President said, "I swear to God and promise the Colombian people to faithfully abide by the Constitution and laws of Colombia."
21-GUN SALUTE AFTER THE OATH
Immediately after de la Espriella was sworn in, a 21-gun salute was fired from the Jose Maria Cordova Military School in the capital Bogota.
Vice President Jose Manuel Restrepo was also sworn in and began his term.
SECURITY MEASURE WITH BALLISTIC SHIELDS AT THE CEREMONY
During de la Espriella's journey to the conference hall of the university where his inauguration ceremony was held, security forces took precautions with bulletproof ballistic shields.
At de la Espriella's request, it was decided that the swearing-in ceremony would be held outside the capital Bogota for the first time in Colombia's history. The ceremony took place in Cali, in the southwest of the country.
WILL TURN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE INTO A MUSEUM
De la Espriella had previously stated that he would not go to Casa de Narino and planned to turn the Presidential Palace into a museum.
De la Espriella also stated that he would continue to govern the country from different regions, primarily Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellin.
Thus, the new era in Colombia began amidst a political crisis that started with former President Petro not recognizing the election results and leaving the palace without handing over the duties to his successor.