Colombia: The De la Espriella’s administration opening moves

Research evidence excerpt

J P M O R G A N

Latin America Economic Research

10 August 2026

Colombia

The De la Espriella’s administration opening moves

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in August 7 in Cali, the first inauguration held

outside Bogotá in the republic's history, for a 2026–2030 term. He takes office

without a legislative majority, after a runoff decided by roughly one point.

His government has moved fast. A full cabinet and a roughly 1,300-person

transition team were in place well before taking office. The administration signed

its first decrees and held its first overnight Security Council session, all within

hours of the inauguration.

The defining economic move so far is disclosure rather than a single measure:

finance minister Miguel Gómez Martínez's claim that the country's real fiscal

deficit is 7.8% of GDP, well above the 6.4%–6.7% officially reported for 2024–25,

paired with a day-one spending freeze, a promised large spending cut, and a taxsimplification reform slated for September.

Inauguration and cabinet

De la Espriella was sworn in in Cali rather than in Bogotá, a break from tradition

that required Senate approval (58 votes to 30). His government has framed the

move as a signal of decentralization aimed at restoring the state's presence in the

southwest.

King Felipe VI of Spain and at least eight Latin American heads of state or

government attended; outgoing President Gustavo Petro did not. De la Espriella

delivered his first speech as president from the Pichincha military garrison before

troops, rather than at the civilian ceremony venue, a staging choice tied to the

security message that followed.

Table 1: Appointed Cabinet

Position

Name

Political party

Notes

Vice Presidency

José Manuel Restrepo

Defensores de la Patria

Also led the transition team with the outgoing Petro

government

Hacienda y Crédito Público (Finance)

Miguel Gómez Martínez

Salvación Nacional

Economist; named June 30; replaces Germán Ávila

Interior

Rodrigo Lara Restrepo

Defensores de la Patria

First cabinet member confirmed

Defense

Jorge Eduardo Mora

Defensores de la Patria

Mines and Energy

María Nohemí Arboleda

Independent

Justice

Iván Cancino

Salvación Nacional

Health

Ana María Vesga

…