A few days ago, the former progressive presidential candidate, Iván Cepeda – who had already conceded defeat in the runoff election – demanded that the president-elect, far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, renounce his US citizenship before taking office as president of Colombia.
He also raised the possibility of a connection between De la Espriella and an unspecified US security agency. Abelardo de la Espriella currently holds three nationalities: Colombian, Italian, and US.
“Unless De la Espriella renounces his US citizenship (and likely his membership in a US security agency), he should not take office as President of the Republic; should he do so, his inauguration would undoubtedly be tainted by illegality and illegitimacy,” said Cepeda.
He also demanded that De la Espriella clarify his possible affiliation with a US security agency: “It must be made absolutely clear and definitive that De la Espriella renounces his US citizenship and must clarify whether he is a collaborator or member of U.S. security agencies.”
In addition, Senator Cepeda called on the president-elect to cease any potential persecution of the outgoing administration, including current President Gustavo Petro – Cepeda’s political ally – and stated that if the far-right government takes on a persecutory tone, they will engage in peaceful civil disobedience.
“If these conditions regarding legality are not met … I will embark on a path of peaceful civil disobedience, which entails refusing to recognize the authority of someone who does not uphold the defense of national sovereignty. Let it be very clear: civil disobedience. Peaceful disobedience. I call upon and invite the millions of voters who placed their trust in me to do the same,” Cepeda affirmed.
A few weeks ago, more than thirty Colombian academics, former judges, and constitutional lawyers expressed concern about the president-elect’s US citizenship. They reported that his Italian citizenship does not pose a major conflict with the duties and responsibilities De la Espriella will have; rather, the conflict would arise from the oath the president-elect took to assume the presidency.
According to the scholars, the naturalization oath required by the United States calls for the individual to “absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty” and to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
In this regard, Telesur stated the following about the investigation: “The former justices point out that this solemn act is in direct contradiction with the constitutional duties of a Colombian president. According to Articles 189, 192, 217, and 226 of the Constitution, the president is the head of state, the supreme administrative authority, and the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, with the inescapable duty to defend Colombia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to guarantee the rights of all Colombians. Therefore, anyone who has formally renounced their loyalty to Colombia and sworn to defend the United States against its enemies finds themselves caught in an ‘irresolvable conflict of loyalties’ when it comes to prioritizing national interests.”
For now, Colombia’s National Electoral Council has stated that it sees no problem with the president-elect holding all three nationalities, nor does it believe this particular situation will prevent him from fulfilling his responsibilities; consequently, the council dismissed a series of requests filed by attorneys demanding that De la Espriella renounce his US citizenship.
Devin Martinez , July 2, 2026
From BT News via This RSS Feed.