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Sworn Elsewhere: De la Espriella’s US Oath and Colombia’s Constitution
Verfassungsblog: On Matters Constitutional, Vol.5 August 2026
Verfassungsblog gGmbH
2026
Abstract
On 7 August, Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, takes office amid a turbulent transition. The outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, rejects the result and alleges electoral fraud, and an electoral-nullity action against the election is now before the Council of State. De la Espriella will swear to keep faith with the Constitution and take command of the armed forces. Yet he has already sworn, in an oath that remains formally operative, to renounce all allegiance to every other sovereign and to bear arms for the United States. Constitutions that make dual nationality an individual right seldom pause to ask what that right means for the one office meant to personify the sovereignty of the people. Colombia can no longer avoid the question.
Details
- Title
- Sworn Elsewhere: De la Espriella’s US Oath and Colombia’s Constitution
- Authors
- Juan Zahir Naranjo Cáceres (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Verfassungsblog: On Matters Constitutional, Vol.5 August 2026
- Publisher
- Verfassungsblog gGmbH
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.59704/2c51d9927b55abe5
- ISSN
- 2366-7044
- Organisation Unit
- International Office; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991251400002621
- Output Type
- Blog
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