Abelardo de la Espriella, a former lawyer known for his flamboyant public persona, officially assumed the presidency of Colombia on Friday. During his inauguration, he outlined a policy platform that signals a significant shift toward the right for the nation. His stated priorities include a robust campaign against drug-trafficking guerrilla groups, which involves plans to bomb jungle-based cocaine laboratories.

In addition to his security agenda, de la Espriella announced plans to construct “mega prisons” to house offenders and to significantly reduce the size of the state apparatus. The inauguration ceremony, which included de la Espriella and Vice-President Jose Manuel Restrepo, featured the pair performing a military salute that served as a hallmark of their recent campaign. The new administration has also explicitly stated its intention to pursue a policy of strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with the United States. While the report characterizes the transition as a lurch to the right, it focuses primarily on the incoming administration’s stated goals regarding security and governance.