Key facts
- Luis Carlos Rúa, known as 'Elefante blanco', was sworn in as a senator in Colombia.
- He wore a white plush elephant costume during the ceremony.
- Rúa gained significant public attention for exposing corrupt public works projects on social media.
- He received approximately 124,000 votes, making him one of Colombia's most voted senators.
- Rúa intends to use his senatorial salary to fund his anti-corruption oversight work.
- He recently voted in favor of a proposal to move the presidential inauguration ceremony.
Luis Carlos Rúa, a Colombian anti-corruption activist who gained prominence under the persona 'Elefante blanco' (White Elephant), was sworn in as a senator while wearing his signature elephant costume. Rúa, 34, revealed his identity only three days before the election, having spent five years exposing overpriced and abandoned public works projects on social media. His videos garnered hundreds of thousands of views, leading to some projects being resumed and Rúa becoming one of Colombia's most voted senators with approximately 124,000 votes.
Rúa stated that the inauguration day was spectacular and unprecedented. He explained that the costume is for specific occasions and not for every debate, as not all discussions warrant such a display. The 'Elefante blanco' persona originated in 2019 when Rúa, then working for the mayor's office in Pereira, witnessed and leaked evidence of vote-buying pressure. After receiving death threats, he moved to Medellín and continued his anonymous activism, commissioning the elephant costume and design to expose wrongdoing.
His work has focused on unfinished roads, bridges, schools, tunnels, and hospitals, often narrated in a distorted voice and filmed in challenging conditions. Rúa funded his efforts through freelance work, merchandise sales, and crowdfunding, but decided to run for office to secure a senator's salary for sustained oversight. He remained anonymous until shortly before the election to protect his safety.
Political analyst Gabriel Cifuentes noted that Rúa's election highlights the growing influence of social media and public weariness with traditional politics. Cifuentes believes that activists like Rúa, unaffiliated with political parties, attract attention from a socially connected public disillusioned with perceived corruption.
One of Rúa's legislative proposals is a law requiring dedicated municipal budgets for repairing potholes, to be named after his father, Darío Rúa, who died after falling on a potholed street. Rúa identifies as independent, not aligning with the left, right, or center. However, he faced criticism for voting in favor of Abelardo de la Espriella's proposal to move the presidential inauguration ceremony, arguing it was to signal state presence in a neglected region and would cost less than previous inaugurations.