Colombia: Setback for President-Elect

Colombian lawmakers dealt a first setback to hardline right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella yesterday by defeating his candidate for Senate president, a move that could hinder the incoming president’s efforts to secure a parliamentary majority when he takes office on August 7.

By convention, the president’s ally is typically elected Senate president to ensure the passage of the administration’s initial legislative proposals. However, the chamber, one of the two houses of Congress, elected a leader from former President Alvaro Uribe’s conservative party as its president, in alliance with the party of outgoing left-wing President Gustavo Petro.

De la Espriella, a 47-year-old wealthy lawyer, has hinted at resorting to decrees if the parliament obstructs his proposed legislation, which includes cutting the number of public sector employees by 40 percent, launching military attacks on drug trafficking gangs, and dismantling the Peace Court established after the historic 2016 agreement with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebel group.