Colombia swears in De La Espriella under 11,000-troop security lock
What's next: The new president plans to end peace talks, revive aerial coca spraying and push deep state cuts despite a divided Congress.
Abelardo De La Espriella is due to take office Friday as Colombia's president under heavy security in Cali, where authorities deployed about 11,000 troops and imposed strict transport limits amid fears of protests and rebel attacks. The 48-year-old conservative, who has never held elected office, defeated Ivan Cepeda in June and will succeed Gustavo Petro. De La Espriella has pledged to confront armed groups with greater military force, halt Petro's "Total Peace" talks, build large prisons and restart aerial and drone spraying of coca crops. He also wants to shrink the state by as much as 40% and revive oil and gas. Analysts say many of his plans will need support from a divided Congress, limiting how quickly he can move.