{"text":[[{"start":8.15,"text":"Even in an era of angry political outsiders, Colombia’s Abelardo de la Espriella is an unconventional choice for president. Like Donald Trump, one of his role models, the presidency will be his first public office. A multi-millionaire former criminal lawyer who revels in the nickname “El Tigre”, de la Espriella campaigned with the sort of brash rightwing populism that is spreading across Latin America. "}],[{"start":32.65,"text":"Often photographed giving a military salute, he has in recent days lambasted journalists and threatened to “disembowel” the leftwing opposition if it blocks his agenda. His lifestyle brand “De La Espriella Style” offers supporters a bust of a tiger in Colombia’s national colours — a symbol of “determination, leadership and dedication to the homeland” — for almost £900."}],[{"start":56.15,"text":"The far-right de la Espriella does not have the backing of a major party and spent much of the run-up to last Sunday’s election trashing the country’s political elite. In an election with no debates and little policy discussion, he has demonstrated mastery of Trumpian politics — using social media to mobilise resentment, demonise opponents and deliver an emotional critique of political reality, especially about crime and violence."}],[{"start":83.2,"text":"Rodrigo Uprimny, a former judge in Colombia’s constitutional court, says de la Espriella has made lots of splashy promises but has yet to deliver anything concrete. “He is a big showman,” he says. Trump celebrated his success on social media: “He Won, BIG!” "}],[{"start":100,"text":"Born in Bogotá in 1978, de la Espriella grew up near the Caribbean coast, where his father was a local politician and lawyer. As a defence lawyer, including in Florida, his high-profile cases included a pastor accused of sexual assault, the mastermind of a pyramid scheme and Alex Saab, who is facing charges in the US of money laundering on behalf of the Venezuelan regime. He has also defended rightwing paramilitaries accused of human rights violations. "}],[{"start":129.35,"text":"When pressed about his clients, de la Espriella has always insisted that everyone is entitled to legal representation. Faced with a series of investigations into his legal career, he has filed over 100 lawsuits against journalists."}],[{"start":143.29999999999998,"text":"Married with four children, he is also a citizen of the US and Italy. Before the election, his wife Ana Lucía Pineda admitted that, were he to lose, they might move to their houses in Miami or Florence. “We live wonderfully,” she said. In an interview with the FT earlier this year, de la Espriella said that he loved “the wonders of life . . . an English car, Swiss watches, Italian clothing, Mediterranean food, European wines”."}],[{"start":170.7,"text":"He has also faced claims of misogyny. During one television appearance, he asked a female journalist to look at a photo of his crotch, which he suggested could win him “some awesome votes from the female electorate”. He later claimed it was a joke. “If a woman feels uncomfortable, a gentleman has the moral obligation to offer an apology,” he said."}],[{"start":189.25,"text":"Colombia has become the latest in a flurry of Latin American countries in recent years to elect a rightwing candidate — many of them imitating Maga themes and rhetoric. Just as Trump has made taking on drug traffickers a foreign policy priority, the rise in organised crime across the region is the issue that best explains the emergence of maverick outsiders like de la Espriella. "}],[{"start":211.55,"text":"Outgoing president Gustavo Petro, a former leftwing guerrilla, launched simultaneous negotiations with more than a dozen armed groups, most of which are involved in the cocaine trade. Some of them used the cover of talks to expand. More than half the country’s municipalities now have the presence of an armed group. De la Espriella is promising a full-scale military confrontation with these groups. Inspired by Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s rightwing president, he is also proposing to build several mega-prisons for gang members. (Like Bukele, he sports a perfectly cropped beard). "}],[{"start":244.9,"text":"But many former officials and military leaders question the efficacy of a military-led strategy given that gang members often live and operate in populated areas. "}],[{"start":254.75,"text":"On the economy, de la Espriella is promising to slash spending, which has surged under Petro. But significant budget cuts will be fiercely opposed by the leftwing opposition, which won nearly 49 per cent in the run-off. Petro has been warning darkly about “mafia fascism”. Iván Duque, the last rightwing president, was severely weakened by widespread protests in 2021."}],[{"start":278.6,"text":"When he takes office in August, there will be two very contrasting approaches open to de la Espriella. One would be to build bridges with established political parties and seek approval of Congress for his proposals. His vice-president, José Manuel Restrepo, is a former finance minister and could act as a bridge. “He will not be a weak leader,” Restrepo tells the FT. “But he is also a man with deep respect for the constitution and the law.”"}],[{"start":307.1,"text":"But at times de la Espriella has signalled a different path, involving a much more direct challenge to the legal and political order."}],[{"start":315.70000000000005,"text":"“He describes himself as a constitutional patriot who is not going to touch the constitution,” says Uprimny, the former judge. “But many of the proposals he has put forward are very risky and absolutely unconstitutional.” "}],[{"start":329.55000000000007,"text":"Indeed, De la Espriella has talked about making greater use of decrees and emergency presidential powers and has threatened to withdraw from regional human rights organisations. In one interview, he promised to kill drug traffickers “like rats, like cockroaches”. "}],[{"start":353.50000000000006,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782547121_9625.mp3"}