In his maiden address, the new Colombian president promises a robust fight against crime and fiscal austerity

Abelardo de La 'Espriella, Colombia's right-wing president was sworn into office on Friday. In his inaugural address, he pledged a vigourous fight against drug trafficking as well as austerity measures in order to reestablish confidence in the economy. De La Espriella won the June run-off on promises that he would crack down on armed group, shrink the government by up to 40%, and revitalize the oil and gas industry. He was an ally of U.S. president Donald Trump and represented right-wing paramilitaries as a lawyer. De La Espriella is the first person to hold elected office. De La Espriella told the Pichincha Battalion in Cali that she had "come to close a chapter of national resignation" and embarked on a journey of transformation with the people. "I send a strong message to the Colombians: The time is now to restore order, authority, and freedom." The new president said that members of criminal gangs, narco-terrorists groups and other armed groups faced two options: either submit to the law and face the Colombian security forces or submit to the rule-of-law. He also added that the option of holding peace talks with the armed groups was "completely exhausted." De La Espriella stated that "the time has come for definitively eradicating the scourge illicit crops." He added he would use aerial herbicide spraying to destroy coca. De La Espriella said that Colombia would join the Shield of the Americas, a program created by Trump. This will be one of his first acts as President. De La Espriella also pledged to freeze spending on public programs and to pursue a tax-reform to simplify the payment system and to boost employment and investment, while maintaining popular social programs put in place by Petro. "I want to tell Colombian business leaders, large, medium and small, that the government will be your partner when you invest in Colombia. De La Espriella stated that it would be a profitable and safe decision.

(source: Reuters)