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The Colombian singer Karol G published an open letter on Sunday addressed to the elected president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, through her official account on X, accompanied by the message: "For Colombia. With respect, but also with hope and demand."
The letter arrived days after the National Electoral Council officially declared De la Espriella elected president of Colombia on June 24, after winning the runoff with 12,960,166 votes compared to 12,708,312 for the Pacto Histórico candidate, Iván Cepeda.
From the beginning, the artist distanced herself from any political stance: "I am not writing to you as a sympathizer. I am not writing to you as an opponent. I am writing to you as a Colombian who deeply loves her country."
The text reminds the elected official that the campaign period has ended and what lies ahead is more demanding: "The elections are over. The campaign is over. The speeches are over. Now the most difficult part begins: governing for everyone."
One of the most direct passages of the letter points to the exercise of power: "I want to ask you to remember, every day, that the power you received a week ago is not a trophy, it is not a prize, IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY."
Karol G also urged the elected president to broaden his listening beyond his electoral base: "Listen to those who voted for you, but also to those who didn't. Do not govern for a party, an ideology, or a sector; govern for Colombia."
The artist listed the sectors that, in her opinion, should be a priority: children who deserve education, families struggling to make ends meet, farmers, entrepreneurs, and young people dreaming of a better future.
Regarding security, a very sensitive issue in Colombia, she emphasized: "There can be no progress while security is lacking and fear continues to be a part of everyday life for Colombians."
The letter also warned that history judges leaders by their results, not by their promises, and it concluded with a phrase that quickly went viral: "In the end, no president wins when they win an election... A president wins when they win their people."
The post generated mixed reactions on social media. While some followers praised the non-partisan tone, critical voices pointed out that the artist remained silent during the four years of Gustavo Petro's government.
However, there are instances of public statements by Karol G regarding Colombia: during the National Strike of 2021, she denounced that "they are killing civilians" and called for the intervention of the United Nations, although she did not align herself with any political party.
De la Espriella, a criminal lawyer and leader of the right-wing movement "Defensores de la Patria," will assume the presidency on August 7, ending four years of Petro's government.
His victory was supported publicly by Donald Trump, who referred to him as "The Tiger" and promised a strong relationship between the two countries, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio also congratulated him and stated that "the best days for Colombia are yet to come."
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