Colombian presidential contender Abelardo de la Espriella draws fire over policy plans and business losses

Abelardo de la Espriella, a candidate in Colombia's presidential race, has outlined a platform that includes cutting the public workforce by roughly 700,000 jobs, among them 33,000 teachers, and eliminating several social benefits for youth. He also proposes withdrawing Colombia from the United Nations, the OAS and the Inter‑American Court of Human Rights, opening fracking without restrictions, selling state‑owned energy firms, and permitting additional U.S. military bases on Colombian soil.

Critics point to his business record, noting that his liquor‑production company, Dominio de la Espriella, has accumulated losses of about 3.884 billion Colombian pesos and closed its U.S. operations. A group of jurists has warned that his triple nationality – Colombian, Italian and U.S. – could create an incompatibility with the presidency. The combination of his economic proposals and personal financial issues has raised concerns about potential spikes in unemployment, social exclusion, environmental damage and increased U.S. influence in Colombia.