Colombia's right-wing undergoes reconfiguration under Abelardo de la Espriella

The Colombian political landscape is undergoing a significant reconfiguration of the right-wing spectrum following the end of Gustavo Petro’s administration and the rise of Abelardo de la Espriella. De la Espriella secured the presidency after presenting a candidacy backed by over 4 million signatures through the citizen group ‘Defensores de la Patria’, which later aligned with the Movimiento de Salvación Nacional.

This shift has created friction between established political forces and the emerging ‘new right’. Tensions have surfaced between the Centro Democrático party and leaders linked to the Defensores de la Patria movement. Former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez has expressed concern regarding these internal challenges, stating in a radio interview that the Centro Democrático must be defended ‘like African honeybees’ against perceived threats to the party’s leadership and electoral base.