Abelardo de la Espriella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abelardo de la Espriella
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De la Espriella in 2026
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| President-elect of Colombia | |
| Assuming office 7 August 2026 |
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| Succeeding | Gustavo Petro |
| Leader of Defenders of the Homeland | |
| Assumed office 5 August 2024 |
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| President | Mauricio Gómez Amín |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella Otero
31 July 1978 Bogotá, Colombia |
| Citizenship | Colombia • United States • Italy |
| Political party | Defenders of the Homeland (since 2024) |
| Spouses |
Yoly Illidge
(m. 2001; div. 2004)Ana Lucía Pineda
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Sergio Arboleda University (LLB) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Defensores de la Patria – Political Movement Colombia Abelardista – Civilian Movement |
| Nickname | The Tiger |
Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella Otero (born 31 July 1978) is a Colombian lawyer, businessman, and conservative politician. He is the president-elect of Colombia. He won the 2026 presidential runoff on 21 June. He defeated senator Iván Cepeda by a very small difference. This was the closest presidential election in Colombia's history. He received 12.9 million votes, becoming the most voted presidential candidate ever. He is scheduled to take office on 7 August 2026.
De la Espriella was born in Bogotá and grew up in Montería, Córdoba. He studied law at Sergio Arboleda University and Del Rosario University. In 2012, he earned a master's degree in law from Nebrija University. He specializes in administrative law. He became well-known for defending important people in legal cases. In 2024, he started a political group called Defenders of the Homeland. In the first round of the 2026 election on 31 May, he received 43.74% of the votes. He then won the runoff with 49.66% of the votes.
Contents
Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?
His Early Life and Family
Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella Otero was born in Bogotá, D.C., on July 31, 1978. His parents are Abelardo de la Espriella Juris and María Eugenia Otero Aldana. When he was two years old, his family moved to Montería, Córdoba.
His father is a lawyer and worked as a judge. He also ran for governor of Córdoba in 1997. He is a close friend of Álvaro Uribe, who was president of Colombia from 2002 to 2010. De la Espriella's mother, María Eugenia Otero Aldana, comes from a family of cattle ranchers.
De la Espriella went to high school with Salvatore Mancuso. They were in the same social circles. He also enjoyed theater in high school. Later, he worked for a local radio station called La Voz de Montería. He still enjoys hunting.
His Education and Career Path
After high school, he moved to Bogotá to study law. He attended Sergio Arboleda University, which has a conservative focus. He earned his law degree from Del Rosario University. In 2012, he completed a master's degree in law at Nebrija University.
De la Espriella worked for a group called the Initiatives for Peace Foundation (FIPAZ). This foundation aimed to find peaceful solutions during a time of conflict in Colombia. It also worked to change the country's laws about sending people to other countries for trials. He is a successful businessman and has been involved in various ventures, including rum and wine. In 2023, after living in Miami for over ten years, he became a citizen of the United States.
Important Legal Cases
Defending Public Figures
De la Espriella has represented politicians who faced legal challenges. Some of these people, like former congresswoman Eleonora Pineda, were friends with his mother. He also defended Dieb Maloof and Rocío Arias.
In 2013, he became a legal advisor for Alex Saab. Saab later faced legal issues in the United States. In 2014, De la Espriella also accompanied Venezuelan political strategist Juan José Rendón for a statement in Miami.
Concerns About Legal Actions
Organizations that protect press freedom have sometimes raised concerns. They noted that De la Espriella has often taken legal action against journalists. These groups, like the Inter American Press Association, have described some of these cases as judicial harassment.
His Path to the Presidency
The 2026 Presidential Election
During his presidential campaign, De la Espriella's team focused on showing him as a strong leader. His campaign events included leaders from right-wing politics in Latin America. Several presidents, like Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, José Antonio Kast of Chile, and Javier Milei of Argentina, publicly supported his campaign. In mid-June 2026, Colombia's government expressed concerns about some of these endorsements. They called them interference in the election.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also supported De la Espriella. Trump said he believed De la Espriella would improve relations between Colombia and the United States.
What Are His Political Ideas?
His Stance on Key Issues
Abelardo de la Espriella is known for his right-wing political views. He supports people's right to own weapons. He has also suggested that Colombia should leave some international organizations, like the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. He has strong views on maintaining order and believes in firm security measures. For example, he supports building large prisons, similar to those in El Salvador.
He has shown strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He believes that countries must take firm actions to protect their people. After his election victory, Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly congratulated him.
De la Espriella supports economic policies that allow businesses more freedom. He also believes in strong actions against illegal activities. He wants to end peace talks with some armed groups in Colombia.
Foreign Policy and Traditional Values
He wants Colombia to have a very close relationship with the United States in its foreign policy. He also plans to restore diplomatic ties with Israel. This includes opening an embassy in Jerusalem, which would change Colombia's past approach to the conflict. In late 2025, he met with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar. He promised to strengthen friendship and cooperation between Colombia and Israel.
He believes in upholding traditional values. He wants to reform the education system to include more religious teachings. He also aims to limit the influence of the main teachers' union in the country. He admires former U.S. President Donald Trump. He has also expressed strong opinions about the future of Cuba.
His Personal Life
De la Espriella was not religious for some years, but later became a Catholic. He supports conservative Christian values. He is married to Ana Lucía Pineda and they have four children.
See also
In Spanish: Abelardo de la Espriella para niños
