BOGOTÁ, Colombia — A group of 20 former Colombian high court justices and prominent constitutional scholars questioned the presidential candidacy of attorney Abelardo de la Espriella, warning that the U.S. citizenship he obtained through naturalization could create constitutional conflict with serving as Colombia’s president.
In a statement released Wednesday, the jurists said Colombia’s 1991 Constitution establishes three requirements for serving as president: being a Colombian citizen by birth, being a citizen in good standing and being older than 30. While De la Espriella meets those formal criteria, the group argued that the obligations he assumed through U.S. naturalization — including an oath renouncing allegiance to foreign governments and pledging to defend the U.S. Constitution — are incompatible with the duties of the presidency, particularly the office’s role as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
“The legal issue does not lie in the existence of a second nationality, but in the duties and obligations acquired through naturalization,” the signatories said.
De la Espriella holds three nationalities: Colombian, Italian and American. According to the jurists, his Italian citizenship, obtained through descent, does not create incompatibilities with holding public office in Colombia because it did not require an oath of allegiance.
The former justices said they decided to intervene publicly because they believe there is “an ethical and constitutional duty to warn about the possible legal, political and sovereignty implications” arising from the candidate’s possession of both nationalities.
Germán Calderón España, attorney for De la Espriella, rejected the arguments, writing on the social media platform X that “the general requirements for becoming president of the Republic are being a Colombian citizen by birth, being a citizen in good standing and being older than 30.” He said the Constitution expressly provides an exception for Colombians by birth who hold another nationality.
Ramiro Bejarano, a professor at Externado University of Colombia, told Blu Radio that the debate over the candidate’s U.S. citizenship “deserves detailed analysis.” Bejarano said the discussion should focus on “whether the commitments assumed through U.S. naturalization could influence the decisions of a future president,” though he clarified that the controversy does not necessarily affect the legality of the candidacy.
Calderón España also announced that he plans to file a legal challenge against a ruling by the Superior Court of Bogotá that prohibited the use of national symbols and the slogan “Firmes por la Patria” in campaign activities.
De la Espriella became the biggest political surprise of Colombia’s election cycle after winning the June 1 first round with 43.74% of the vote. The right-wing candidate from the Firmes por la Patria movement defeated government-backed candidate Iván Cepeda, who received 40.90%, and advanced to a June 21 runoff. His campaign has centered on security, free markets and close ties with Washington, and he has received the public endorsement of President Donald Trump.