A millionaire lawyer who made a fortune defending drug traffickers and fraudsters, he has pledged to use a heavy hand on crime.
The left-wing bloc is the largest in Congress, although De la Espriella could secure a majority if he forges closer alliances with the traditional parties.
He is taking the helm of a deeply divided country that is enduring the highest levels of violence in a decade.
De la Espriella once called for the Colombian political left to be “gutted” but later toned down his words.
Cepeda warned that he would reject “any attempt at authoritarian subjugation” under the incoming administration.
“We will resort, if necessary, to resistance and peaceful civil disobedience,” he said.
Post-election unrest mainly occurred in the cities of Bogota and Cali on Sunday night, where protesters started fires and lobbed objects at riot police, who used tear gas on the crowd.
Cepeda urged “composure and calm” following these incidents, during which demonstrators burned US flags in reference to De la Espriella’s rapport with the Trump administration.
Trump offered his hearty congratulations to De la Espriella on Monday.
“I look forward to working together to build a powerful relationship between Colombia and the United States of America, which will bring new levels of Greatness for both of our Countries!” he wrote on Truth Social.
