President-elect Abelardo De La Espriella ordered the suspension of the transition process with outgoing President Gustavo Petro on July 7, 2026.
The suspension of the "empalme" meetings disrupts the formal transfer of power between the two administrations. This breakdown in communication occurs as the incoming government prepares to take office in Bogotá, creating a vacuum in the coordinated handover of state affairs.
De La Espriella said the decision was justified by labeling Petro a "golpista," or coup plotter [1]. He further characterized the outgoing president's current state of mind by stating, "Tiene pánico y terror" [2].
President Petro responded to the suspension by suggesting that the delivery of power would now take place "ante el pueblo," or before the people [3]. Despite the lack of cooperation from the president-elect's team, Petro said he will still hand over power on the scheduled date [4].
In a pointed critique of the suspension, Petro said, "Pondré sillas vacías en la Casa de Nariño" [5]. This remark refers to the transition meetings normally held at the presidential palace in Bogotá [6].
Contradictions remain regarding the future of the handover. While some reports suggest Petro has not accepted his defeat and refuses to participate [1], other accounts indicate the outgoing government intends to proceed with the delivery process regardless of the president-elect's absence [3].
“"Tiene pánico y terror."”
The suspension of the transition process signals a high level of volatility between the outgoing and incoming administrations. By bypassing the traditional 'empalme' meetings at the Casa de Nariño, Colombia faces a risk of administrative instability and a lack of continuity in government policy during the transfer of power.
