De la Espriella gives a twist in relation to Nicaragua with the strategy of isolating the regime

The Colombian Liberal Party has decided to support the general budget for "the victims of the earthquake," despite tensions with President Abelardo De La Espriella over alleged mismanagement of resources in San Andrés. On Monday, October 19, a tense session took place in the House of Representatives due to the party's dissatisfaction with the president following an incident involving Representative Elizabeth Jay-Pang, who was confronted by De La Espriella over accusations of improper handling of funds in the archipelago. During the day, Liberal representatives left the plenary session to disrupt the quorum and held a closed-door meeting to make decisions. After this meeting, the congressmen decided to vote in favor of the government’s proposed general budget, citing the economic needs of earthquake victims. However, it became clear during the meeting that there is frustration with the executive branch, and they signed a document stating that investigations should be conducted before making judgments. Further meetings will determine the official position of the party, which currently supports the government but could change its stance later. President Abelardo De La Espriella has taken a firm stance against Nicaragua, declaring that his government will have no ties with dictatorships. This position was confirmed by the director of the National Agency for Legal Defense of the State (ANDJE), Germán Calderón, who stated that the decree would not include dialogues with Nicaragua. Colombia aims to resolve any doubts regarding its control over the San Andrés archipelago and send a warning to the Ortega regime. This shift in relations with Nicaragua is a direct order from De La Espriella, established before he came into power, indicating a definitive break with the country and the closure of the embassy in Managua. However, these steps have not been implemented yet, as the only country with which relations have been severed is Iran. De La Espriella emphasized Colombia’s sovereignty over San Andrés, stating that the country would not yield even a single nautical mile or abandon a fisherman. He announced plans to close any remaining uncertainties about the region’s boundaries through a bilateral agreement with sovereign states. The decree, set to be signed on November 30, the Day of San Andrés, does not require dialogue with Nicaragua, as the Government already has the authority under Law 10° of 1978 to define the baselines in the archipelago, governed by the Convention on the Law of the Sea. In recent years, no Colombian president had intervened so directly in discussions about corruption scandals in San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina. De La Espriella warned that the islands have faced governance crises, leading four former governors to face legal action. These cases highlight ongoing issues of corruption and mismanagement within the region. Nicolás Iván Gallardo Vásquez served as governor from January 1, 2024, to April 3, 2025, until the Council of State annulled his election due to allegations of double affiliation and delaying tactics aimed at obstructing the process. His case involved supporting candidates from different parties and repeatedly filing legal challenges to delay proceedings. Everth Julio Hawkins Sjogreen, the most recent ex-governor, was captured in Barranquilla on October 19, facing multiple charges including extortion and kidnapping. His case continues to unfold, highlighting the persistent issues of corruption and legal challenges within the region.