From AI Memes to US Bombs: How the Colombian new right stormed the halls of power

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in this week and took power in Colombia. In many ways, his victory represents the end of Uribismo, the right-wing ideology named after and led by Alvaro Uribe.

Despite their tepid support in the runoff, traditional power structures are turning away from de la Espriella, even if the electorate is not.

He forged a new coalition of evangelicals, traditional Catholics, business interests, and even made inroads into some poorer areas of the country which have leaned left in recent years.

Is this part of the “New Left”, popularized by leaders like Trump and Bolsonarro? We think there is room for comparison. But it also comes from Colombia’s adaptation of the culture wars, and online ultra-right spaces where extremist gender ideology and misogyny have forced their way into mainstream conversation.

“The Tigre” took all of that, threw in some ultra-nationalism, some AI videos, and rhetoric about security to storm the halls of power.

This week we spoke with longtime contributor Adriaan Alselma about exactly how it happened.

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