On Sunday, June 21, 2026, the second round of Colombia’s Presidential Elections took place. Attorney Abelardo de La Espriella “El Tige” (The Tiger) won with 12,959,542 votes (49.66%) against Iván Cepeda, who received 12,708,712 votes (48.70%). The margin was just 250,830 votes — 0.96 percentage points, according to official data from the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil. De La Espriella will govern the 2026–2030 term.
In this article we analyze his official government program and how his policies may affect foreigners, investors, and Colombians alike.
Official Election Results 2026
Turnout exceeded 26 million voters — a historically high figure that shows the massive mobilization on both sides. Colombia ended up divided almost exactly in half, which means the new president faces the challenge of governing for everyone, not just for those who elected him.
Who Is Abelardo de La Espriella?
Abelardo de La Espriella is a criminal defense attorney and founder of De La Espriella Lawyers, one of Colombia’s most recognized law firms. For decades he was a recurring figure in Colombian media — known for his direct, combative, no-nonsense style. Many Colombians knew him from television long before they knew him as a politician.
His political movement, Defensores de la Patria (Defenders of the Homeland), was born as a response to what he and his supporters saw as the deterioration of security, the economy, and institutional trust under the Petro government. His campaign message was straightforward: more security, less red tape for businesses, and a government that treats the private sector as a partner.
One fact that sets him apart: De La Espriella holds triple citizenship — Colombian (by birth), American (naturalized in 2023), and Italian (by descent). He is the first Colombian president with active U.S. citizenship at the time of his election, which reinforces his ties to the English-speaking world and is likely to facilitate a more fluid relationship with Washington.
His Running Mate: José Manuel Restrepo
The Vice President-elect is José Manuel Restrepo, an economist and academic with an impressive track record. He served as rector of both the CESA (Center for Higher Studies in Administration) and the Universidad del Rosario, two of Colombia’s most prestigious universities. He also served as Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and then as Minister of Finance and Public Credit under President Iván Duque (2018–2022).
Restrepo is a respected figure in international business and financial circles. His presence on the ticket sends a clear signal to the market: this government will make economic decisions with technical rigor, not improvisation. For foreign investors, having a former Finance Minister as Vice President is an additional guarantee of stability and predictability.
The Victory Speech
In his first speech as president-elect, De La Espriella struck a tone that surprised even his critics — conciliatory, firm, and emotional all at once. These were his most important lines:
Many analysts read the speech as the start of a transition toward a more moderate statesman profile than the combative candidate of the campaign trail. The promise not to persecute political opponents and to respect the Constitution was well received both in Colombia and abroad.
The Legacy of the Petro Government
De La Espriella inherits a country that went through four years of sweeping — and controversial — changes under Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The final balance is mixed: some social advances, but also a weaker economy, a healthcare system in crisis, and a security strategy that was widely criticized.
The numbers from the outgoing government speak for themselves, according to data from De La Espriella’s official program and official sources:
On popularity: according to pollster Invamer, Petro closed his term with an approval rating of 49.1% in February 2026, after hitting a low of 29% in June 2025 and partially recovering in his final months. While his exit numbers were better than many expected, the majority of Colombians voted for a change in direction.
Petro is spending his final days at the Casa de Nariño consumed by bitterness after his candidate, Iván Cepeda, failed to win the presidency and “El Tigre” Abelardo de La Espriella became the newly elected president. De La Espriella has promised to conduct a forensic audit of his predecessor’s administration. Petro knows that if the United States requests his extradition and brings charges against him, he would have to face trial before a U.S. court, much like his friend Nicolás Maduro; for that reason, it is unlikely that he will acknowledge having lost this election and may instead claim fraud without solid evidence.
The End of "Paz Total" — What Does This Mean?
The new president De Las Espriella has promised to end that approach entirely. His official program states: “There will be no negotiation with criminals!” — recovering territorial control, dismantling militias, destroying 330,000 hectares of coca crops through aerial fumigation and manual eradication, and strengthening extradition.
For foreigners living in or considering a move to Colombia, this is a positive signal. More state presence in the territories means better living conditions and greater peace of mind in areas that are currently conflicted.
Public Security — The Central Promise
Security is the new government’s number-one promise, and the numbers from the previous period justify the urgency. According to the official Defensores de la Patria program: in 2025 there were 12,180 extortion cases, 651 kidnappings (477 extortion-related), 107,924 displaced persons, and 128,825 confined by violence.
The program’s concrete proposals include: creating an Anti-Extortion Task Force with veterans and reservists; recovering the prison system; reaffirming the state monopoly on arms; destroying illegal economies; and strengthening intelligence and the prosecution of crimes. It also proposes using technology for aerial fumigation of coca crops.
For expats, security is the number-one factor when deciding where to live in Colombia. A government that delivers real results — fewer extortions, fewer robberies, more police presence — can significantly change the perception of the country and attract more residents and tourists.
Economy and Private Enterprise — From Scarcity to Abundance
The economic motto of the government program is clear: “From managing scarcity to unleashing abundance.” The growth target is ambitious: 7% annual GDP, comparing Colombia to the takeoffs of South Korea and Singapore. To get there, the official program establishes:
Reducing the tax burden on businesses and simplifying the tax structure. The Great Deregulation Revolution: eliminating red tape across agencies including the INVIMA (Colombia’s FDA equivalent), the DIAN (tax authority), superintendencies, chambers of commerce, environmental licenses, and technical regulations. “One in, two out” policy: for every new regulation, two existing ones are eliminated. Fiscal shock plan generating savings of approximately 3.1% of GDP annually, targeting a deficit below -3.5% of GDP and public debt below 55% of GDP by 2030.
The program also includes the “Country of Property Owners” plan: mortgage loans at 2% interest over 30 years to help more Colombians buy their own homes — which would also boost the construction sector.
The Dollar, the Colombian Peso, and What It Means for Expats
One of the first market signals was the appreciation of the Colombian peso. At Monday’s open on June 22, the peso strengthened against the dollar, the Colombian Stock Exchange (COLCAP) rose, and government bond spreads tightened. The market clearly preferred this outcome.
For foreigners with income from abroad — in dollars, euros, or pounds — a stronger peso has a dual effect worth understanding:
Foreign Direct Investment — Colombia Back on the Radar
The official government program makes FDI a priority: more legal certainty, fewer bureaucratic hurdles, clear and stable rules. The sectors with the most opportunities under the new government are real estate, tourism, agribusiness, technology, energy, and infrastructure.
The Real Estate Market Under the New Government
For anyone thinking about buying or investing in property in Colombia, the new government brings positive signals. The official program includes the “Country of Property Owners“ plan with mortgage loans at 2% interest over 30 years, which would stimulate domestic demand and keep the construction sector active.
For the foreign investor, there’s an important nuance: with a stronger peso, the dollar cost of entering the Colombian real estate market goes up. An apartment that cost $100,000 USD a year ago may now cost $120,000–$131,000 USD depending on how the exchange rate evolves. However, this also means that the value of assets you already own in Colombia rises in dollar terms — an advantage if you’re thinking of selling or monetizing.
In the medium term, cities like Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, and Santa Marta continue to offer some of the best value-for-money in Latin America. Domestic demand is solid, and the arrival of more tourists and investors under this new government is likely to strengthen the rental market.
Tourism — A Big Bet From the New Government
De La Espriella’s official government program lists sustainable tourism as one of the pillars of the new economic model. The target is ambitious: positioning Colombia as a destination for more than 12 million tourists per year, leveraging its biodiversity, culture, and gastronomy.
To get there, the government plans to improve security along tourist routes, develop infrastructure in high-potential regions like the Altillanura, and create tax incentives for private investment in hotels, ecotourism, and hospitality services. The program also proposes supporting major cultural and sporting events that attract international visitors and boost the local economy.
For expats and investors, tourism is also a direct opportunity: hostels, short-term rental apartments, restaurants, tour agencies, and English-language services have a growing market in cities like Medellín, Cartagena, the Coffee Region, and the Pacific coast. A government that invests in security and promotes Colombia abroad is a tailwind for all of these businesses.
Energy and Hydrocarbons — Fracking Back on the Table
The energy sector numbers under Petro are alarming: exploration investment dropped from USD $1.29 billion in 2022 to an estimated USD $740 million in 2025 — a 42% reduction. In 2024, only 27 exploratory wells were drilled, 36% fewer than in 2023. And in 2025, Colombia had to import 17% of its national energy demand — something that hadn’t happened in decades.
De La Espriella’s official program proposes recovering oil and gas exploration and production with legal certainty, strengthening Ecopetrol as a strategic national asset, and developing renewable energies — solar, wind, and hydroelectric — in parallel. The goal is to recover energy self-sufficiency before 2030.
Healthcare — Fixing the Inherited Chaos
The numbers of the crisis are stark: Colombia’s health regulator recorded 1,039,606 complaints in just the first half of 2025. Over 312,000 legal injunctions filed in 2025. 90% of patients did not receive their medications or received them with delays. And 2,436 Colombians died in 2025 due to avoidable barriers to timely medical care.
De La Espriella’s official program proposes a $10 trillion COP emergency plan to pay off debts, restore resource flow, strengthen the hospital network, and improve conditions for healthcare workers. It also proposes making the EPS more efficient and using technology and artificial intelligence to improve system management.
Education and Technology — Connecting Colombia to the Future
On education, De La Espriella’s program takes a practical, technology-focused approach. According to the official government document, only 44.1% of elementary schools have internet for educational purposes, 71% of students don’t reach minimum proficiency in mathematics, and 51% of 15-year-olds fall below the reading minimum.
Concrete proposals from the official program include: creating short-cycle programs in fourth industrial revolution technologies (artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics); promoting bilingualism; creating the Virtual University at Home; providing students with free computers and connectivity; and promoting private investment in technology education through tax incentives.
For the expat community, more English-speaking Colombians makes daily life, business, and cultural integration easier. It’s a long-term investment in the quality of life of everyone who lives here.
Foreign Policy — Trump's Support and a Pivot Toward the West
One of the most immediate changes will be in foreign policy. The Trump administration expressed support for De La Espriella’s victory, viewing him as a natural ally in the region on issues such as combating drug trafficking, pressuring Venezuela, and aligning with Western positions toward Cuba and Nicaragua.
For Colombia, having a fluid relationship with Washington is strategically crucial: the United States is its main trading partner, the largest source of security cooperation, and the biggest emitter of tourists and investors to the country. A Colombia aligned with Washington means better access to financing, more diplomatic backing, and fewer frictions in the bilateral relationship.
On Venezuela, the situation is unlike anything in recent Latin American history. On January 3, 2026, the United States ordered an unprecedented military operation that resulted in the detention of Nicolás Maduro, who is now facing charges of terrorism and drug trafficking in New York. With Maduro out of the picture, Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency under intense pressure from the Trump administration. De La Espriella has promised a firm stance toward the Venezuelan regime and has expressed his aspiration that free elections be called as soon as possible — elections where the opposition, led by María Corina Machado — widely considered a Nobel Peace Prize-worthy figure — can compete on equal terms.
Yet Colombia’s incoming government knows that geopolitical posturing alone cannot resolve what is fundamentally a humanitarian and economic challenge on its doorstep. Millions of Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia, a vast binational border trade, and decades of shared history make the relationship with Venezuela a practical obligation that no diplomatic pivot can simply erase. The new government will have to remain firm in its democratic principles while navigating the daily reality of a border that never closes.
What Changes Specifically for Expats?
For the growing foreign community in Colombia, De La Espriella may represent concrete improvements on several fronts. The most immediate and tangible change: more security. Expats are disproportionately targeted by theft, extortion, and assault. A government genuinely committed to reducing crime — with real enforcement on the streets — directly improves the quality of life of every foreigner living in Colombia.
The new president has also been explicit on another front: foreigners who come to Colombia to engage in sex tourism, child exploitation, or other criminal activity will face strict controls and zero tolerance. This is a firm and welcome signal — Colombia wants the right kind of visitor, and protecting that image matters for the country’s long-term reputation.
On visas and residency: clearer and more stable rules at the Foreign Ministry for visas and residency, particularly for citizens of friendly nations such as the United States. The new president — being himself a U.S. and Italian citizen in addition to Colombian — understands firsthand what it means to navigate a foreign bureaucracy. His government is expected to simplify and speed up visa and residency processes that under the previous administration became increasingly complex, with shifting requirements, added hurdles, and longer processing times.
A pro-investment government also means greater legal certainty for those who want to buy property, start businesses, or live in the country permanently. Stable rules of the game are the primary demand of any foreign investor, and that is exactly the message the new government is sending.
And with more tourism and a stronger connection to the world, demand for services, vacation rental properties, and businesses oriented toward foreigners will continue to grow. For those already in Colombia, that’s an expanding landscape of opportunity — and this government’s direction makes it more likely to materialize.
Prospects for the De La Espriella Government: 2026–2030
Colombia’s incoming president will take office on Friday, August 7, 2026, with nearly half the country holding firmly opposing ideological views. That reality makes bridge-building not a political nicety but a governing necessity. To avoid the kind of street confrontations that plagued the Iván Duque administration (2018–2022) — which was besieged by the left throughout its term — De La Espriella will need to acknowledge the social gains made under his predecessor at the Casa de Nariño. Without that gesture, the risk of governing in a state of permanent protest is real.
His greatest challenge, then, is twofold: fulfilling an ambitious government program while preserving social peace — and doing so without overreaching in ways that erode his political support in Congress. A president with a razor-thin electoral margin cannot afford to govern as if he won by a landslide.
Conclusions
Despite the country’s deep political polarization, most Colombians voted for a change in direction. Although the new president’s victory was narrow, Colombian democracy passed an important test, and the country’s institutions ultimately upheld the will of the majority with maturity and common sense.
Starting on August 7, 2026, President Abelardo De La Espriella will take office with an ambitious agenda focused on greater security, more investment, stronger tourism, and a more efficient state. For foreigners living in or looking to invest in Colombia, the outlook now appears more promising, with expectations of clearer rules, a more business-friendly environment, and a government that better understands the value of foreign investment.
Questions, comments? Contact me today and I will be happy to discuss any of these issues further with you.
