Petro denies military site for Abelardo Espriella oath
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has refused permission for president-elect Abelardo Espriella to take the oath of office at a military garrison. With roughly two weeks left in power, Petro said no military base may prepare for any inauguration while he remains commander-in-chief. The Senate backed moving the Aug. 7 ceremony to Cauca, but the House must still approve.
Key Takeaways
- Petro blocked use of any Colombian military garrison for Abelardo Espriella’s Aug. 7 inauguration.
- De la Espriella wants a southwest garrison ceremony to honor the security forces.
- The Senate approved shifting the swearing-in to Cauca; the Chamber of Representatives still must ratify it.
- Dapre signed logistics and broadcast contracts totaling about 5.95 billion pesos for the handover.
- Critics argue a military-site oath conflicts with Colombia’s civilian democratic tradition.
What did Petro say about Abelardo Espriella’s planned military oath?
Speaking from Bogotá’s Quinta de Bolívar during one of his final official acts, Petro declared he would not authorize any garrison or military facility to prepare for an inauguration while he is still president.
“Civilians have to take office before the people, not before the arms,” he said, stressing that once sworn in—but not on a military estate—the next president can issue the orders he chooses. As sitting president, Petro remains supreme commander of the armed forces until the handover, according to AP News.
Follow more celebrity and political flashpoints in our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Why does Abelardo Espriella want a garrison inauguration?
The conservative president-elect has signaled he wants to swear the oath at a military garrison in southwestern Colombia as a tribute to the public force, which he has pledged to strengthen against illegal armed groups.
This week the Senate approved moving the ceremony from Bogotá to Cauca, a restive department in the southwest, without specifying a garrison. The Chamber of Representatives still must give its green light.
Planning is already underway: the Administrative Department of the Presidency (Dapre) signed logistics and television contracts totaling about 5.95 billion pesos—roughly 19% more than the 2022 handover package—while the documents still describe the act as taking place “before Congress.”
Why is a military-site swearing-in so controversial?
An El Espectador editorial warned that actively involving the armed forces in a political ceremony undercuts their required subordination to civilian power. It noted only three Colombian heads of government historically took office in a barracks—José María Melo, Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, and Gustavo Rojas Pinilla—all associated with dictatorship.
Senators and commentators argue Cauca can still host a civilian ceremony that honors a hard-hit region, with separate tributes to soldiers and police afterward. Petro’s refusal keeps that debate alive until Congress finishes the venue rules and Aug. 7 arrives.