Colombia President Gustavo Petro clashes with incoming leader over dollar loans and shares nostalgic Zipaquirá photo

President Gustavo Petro publicly questioned the financial strategy of incoming President Abelardo De la Espriella, who has begun talks with the World Bank to obtain dollar‑denominated loans for new housing and basic‑sanitation projects slated to start on 7 August. Petro argued on X that Colombia should first recover pension‑fund savings rather than incur additional dollar debt, stating “Y para que piensan endeudar en dólares al país para hacer vivienda…”.

In the days remaining in his term, Petro added a personal post from Zipaquirá, the town where he began his community work, writing “Me tomé una pola” and recalling his youth‑organizing efforts. The image generated extensive discussion on social media, with supporters viewing it as a sign of closeness to ordinary citizens and critics interpreting it as a political stunt amid the transition.