Son of official assassinated by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar is named Colombia's next interior minister
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Son of official assassinated by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar is named Colombia's next interior minister
Updated on: June 29, 2026 / 6:39 AM EDT / AFP
Add CBS News on GoogleColombian hard-right president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella on Friday named a former lawmaker whose father was killed by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar as his future interior minister.
De la Espriella narrowly won Sunday's runoff by less than a percentage point and has pledged to use a heavy hand on crime when he takes office in August.
In his first cabinet announcement, the millionaire lawyer named Rodrigo Lara as his interior minister.
"He who NEVER, despite having been a victim of violence, stopped working for his homeland," De la Espriella said in a social media post accompanied by an AI-generated video.
The incoming minister's father, Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, was serving as justice minister in 1984 when he was gunned down in Bogota on Escobar's orders.
In a 2021 social media post, Lara noted his father's assassination.
"He fought and died alone, knowing he was going to be killed. He never wavered; he never yielded to the power of the worst criminals," Lara wrote. "His sacrifice was an act of supreme love for Colombia—an act of faith and hope."
Hace 37 años fue asesinado mi padre, Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, cuando tenía 37 años de edad
— Rodrigo Lara 🇨🇴 (@Rodrigo_Lara_) April 30, 2021
Luchó y murió solo, sabiendo que lo iban a matar. Nunca se amilanó, nunca cedió al poder de los peores criminales
Su sacrificio fue un acto amor supremo por Colombia, de fe y esperanza. pic.twitter.com/1TBKPbBD5X
The notorious drug baron's forces were engaged in open confrontation with the state at the time, in an effort to prevent cartel members' extradition to the United States.
Lara, who was eight years old when his father was killed, subsequently went into exile in Europe with the rest of his family, and spent several years away before returning to Colombia.
"We will forge a major agreement on the fundamental things that unite us," the lawyer and former senator wrote on X.
Lara previously served as former hardline president Alvaro Uribe's anti-corruption czar.
As a lawmaker, he promoted policies related to the historic peace accord with the now-defunct rebel army FARC -- an agreement De la Espriella now virulently criticizes.
The president-elect told AFP during the campaign he wants to bomb the country's myriad armed groups and construct "mega-prisons."
Right-wing millionaire backed by Trump
The newly elected president, whose business ventures include a clothing line, wine and rum brands, and a restaurant, earned President Trump's endorsement despite never having run for office. He defeated progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda by 1 percentage point, or more than 251,000 votes.
The result effectively was an indictment of outgoing President Gustavo Petro's government, whose policies Cepeda had promised to continue, including a largely failed effort to establish dialogue with multiple armed groups.
Studies have found that Petro's attempted peace negotiation policies have resulted in the expansion of power and membership of armed criminal groups. Cepeda had participated in and continued throughout the campaign to promote negotiations with guerrillas and cartels.
The issue has been particularly salient for low-income families living near fields of coca, the shrub used to make cocaine, as human rights organizations documented more than 50 massacres in Colombia just this year.
De la Espriella's victory adds Colombia to a growing list of countries that have turned to political outsiders in search of solutions to complex social, security and economic challenges.
Similar to Mr. Trump, de la Espriella was seen as a combative political outsider. He got into multiple clashes many considered disrespectful, especially with women journalists, during the campaign. He was also known for using pyrotechnics during his campaign events.
Historically, Colombia has been the United States' top ally in counternarcotics and one of its most important trade partners in the Western Hemisphere. But U.S.-Colombia relations deteriorated sharply under Petro. In 2025, Mr. Trump formally determined that Colombia had "failed demonstrably" in its counternarcotics commitments and threatened military strikes on the country's land.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
