White Elephant in the Room: Colombia Swears in Costumed Anti-Corruption Activist as Senator

Colombia swore in anti-corruption activist Luis Carlos Rúa—known for appearing in a plush white elephant costume—after his election to the Senate. Rúa campaigned on exposing government waste and corruption, using the mask to build an identity tied to “white elephant” projects: costly, unfinished infrastructure paid for with public money. He previously gained attention through social media investigations and later turned that notoriety into a successful run, taking office on July 20, 2026.