‘Institutional threat’: election of far-right leader raises fears for democracy in Colombia
Trump-admiring Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to ‘disembowel’ the left and kill criminals like ‘rats and cockroaches’ When more than 20 women accused a Colombian evangelical pastor in 2012 of sexually abusing them, the defendant’s lawyer sought to discredit the allegations by telling the court that they were “ trepadoras ” – a pejorative term meaning social climbers. He ultimately secured his client’s acquittal – although the case remains under review by the supreme court – but footage of th
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De la Espriella wearing a football-style shirt in Colombian colours. He has turned the country’s national football shirt into a symbol of the far right. Photograph: Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda/EPAView image in fullscreenDe la Espriella wearing a football-style shirt in Colombian colours. He has turned the country’s national football shirt into a symbol of the far right. Photograph: Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda/EPAColombiaAnalysis ‘Institutional threat’: election of far-right leader raises fears for democracy in ColombiaTiago Rogero in BogotáTrump-admiring Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to ‘disembowel’ the left and kill criminals like ‘rats and cockroaches’Mon 22 Jun 2026 12.29 EDTLast modified on Mon 22 Jun 2026 12.30 EDTShareWhen more than 20 women accused a Colombian evangelical pastor…
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