President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is moving to transform his Defensores de la Patria movement into a formal political party in Colombia.
This transition represents a strategic effort to consolidate a new right-wing power center. By securing legal status, the movement can transition from a campaign vehicle into a permanent institutional force capable of challenging established political structures.
The movement has filed a request with the National Electoral Council (CNE) to obtain legal personality [1]. While some reports indicate the CNE has already granted this status following the presidential victory [2], other accounts suggest the request is still under official review [3]. To support its bid for legitimacy, Defensores de la Patria collected approximately two million valid signatures [4].
De la Espriella has sought a legal path similar to the one used by former President Gustavo Petro to establish his own political movement [5]. The move is designed to create a distinct identity within the Colombian right—one that can compete with other conservative sectors for dominance.
Political analysts said the timing of this legal push is linked to the upcoming electoral cycle. The movement intends to use its official party status to exert significant influence over the regional elections scheduled for 2027 [6].
Establishing a formal party allows the group to access public funding, and official candidate registration processes. This infrastructure is essential for the movement to maintain the momentum generated during the presidential campaign and translate it into local governance across the country.
“The movement has filed a request with the National Electoral Council (CNE) to obtain legal personality”
The formalization of Defensores de la Patria signals a shift in the Colombian right, moving away from traditional coalitions toward a personality-driven party centered on Abelardo de la Espriella. If successful, this provides the president-elect with a loyal legislative bloc and a mechanism to install allies in local offices during the 2027 elections, potentially reducing his reliance on fragmented traditional alliances.
