Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has attributed a devastating earthquake that killed 329 people to a divine test sent by God.
The tremor struck Colombia on August 22, leaving 4,600 people injured, 247 missing, and more than 314,000 residents affected across 16 departments. Speaking after the disaster, De La Espriella stated that only God knows the things of God, adding that in His wisdom, God decided to put the nation through a hard test right as his mandate began.
De La Espriella took power on August 7 in the southwestern city of Cali during national commemorations for the Battle of Boyacá, succeeding former president Gustavo Petro.
The Battle of Boyacá, fought in 1819, secured Colombia's independence from Spanish rule and is traditionally commemorated each year on August 7 as Colombia's national holiday and inaugural date for incoming heads of state. Colombia, located in northwestern South America, is divided administratively into 32 departments.
Changing Stance on Religion
Since taking office on August 7, De La Espriella has regularly displayed the Bible, invoked religious themes, and used faith to explain political developments and natural disasters. However, prior to assuming the presidency, De La Espriella acknowledged in a televised interview that he was an atheist who could not swear by God because he denied the presence of a deity.
During that same interview, the president admitted that he had married in the Catholic Church, explaining that people commit foolish and stupid acts out of love.
Evangelical conservative movements have built significant political influence across the Americas in recent years. Religious voting blocs now influence decisions at the White House in Washington, while evangelical parties and lawmakers hold strong representation in several Latin American governments and national legislatures.
Critical Reaction to Rhetoric
Spanish columnist María José Navarro criticized the president's recent speeches, describing his frequent use of religious justification as crude, obscene, and inappropriate for a political leader.
Navarro argued that political figures use faith as a tool to manipulate the population rather than address public affairs. She stated that personal belief should remain private, adding that God functions like a nurse who speaks quietly and heals wounds rather than an explanation for natural disasters.
