Colombian opposition leader Iván Cepeda urges civil disobedience over President‑elect De la Espriella’s U.S. dual‑citizn

Former presidential candidate Iván Cepeda initially accepted the election results that installed Abelardo de la Espriella as Colombia’s president‑elect. Within days he reversed his stance, announcing that he would no longer recognize de la Espriella’s authority while the president‑elect retains U.S. citizenship and calling for “civil disobedience” to oppose his inauguration.

Cepeda argues that de la Espriella’s U.S. naturalisation – which required an oath renouncing loyalty to any other state – constitutes an “affront to national dignity” and raises questions about possible ties to U.S. security or intelligence agencies. He stresses a perceived incompatibility between the American oath and the duties of the Colombian presidency.

Colombian courts have rejected Cepeda’s legal challenges. The Council of State and the Bogotá Superior Court both ruled that holding a foreign citizenship does not automatically disqualify a candidate, stating that “the acquisition of a foreign citizenship does not, by itself, result in the loss of Colombian nationality nor automatically render a person ineligible for public office.” Despite these rulings, Cepeda continues to press the issue, framing it as a matter of sovereignty and loyalty.