Opposition Senator Gustavo Petro became the first left-wing president in Colombia’s history on Sunday, defeating his independent opponent Rodolfo Hernandez.
Mr Petro, 62, received 50.49% of the vote against 47.25% of his opponent, according to the official results of the second round of the presidential election on Sunday, 99.7% of the ballots counted. With 11.2 million votes in his favor, he was ahead of the businessman with about 700 thousand votes (10.5 million), which was described as a surprise in the first round on May 29, which preceded the right-wing candidate, who has always held the presidency. across the country.
“Celebration Day”
“Today is a day of celebration for the people. Let him celebrate the first popular victory “The 62-year-old senator, former partisan նախկին former mayor of Bogota mentioned on Twitter. “Let so much suffering be healed from the joy that floods the heart of the earth today. This victory for the history of God և the people:. Today is the day of streets and squares “he has just started.
“Most of the citizens have chosen the other candidate. (…) I accept the result as it is ““Mr. Hernandez said live from his home on Facebook. “I would like Dr. Gustavo Petro to know how to lead the country and stay true to his anti-corruption rhetoric. “I thank all the Colombians for accepting my offer, even if we lose.”he concluded, his face lost.
“I called @ PetroGustavo to congratulate him on being elected President of the Colombian People”Retired Conservative President Ivan Duke announced on Twitter. “We have agreed to meet in the coming days to start a smooth, institutional-transparent transition”added Mr. Duke, who could not introduce himself.
With the victory of Mr. Petro, for the first time one of the Afro heirs becomes the vice-president of the country, the charismatic Francia Marquez, 40, a modest villager who became an environmental activist, played a big role in the campaign. as a candidate’s competitor.
The announcement of these results caused excitement in a large hall in the center of Bogota, where Mr. Petro’s campaign team organized their pre-election evening with music and entertainment. “Finally we will have changes”greeted Lusimar Asprilla, 25. “It’s something the whole country has been waiting for.”
European congratulations
This presidential election quenched the Colombians’ thirst for change, quenched the Conservative Liberal elite in Latin America’s fourth largest economic power for two centuries.
The two participants of the qualification of the first round came out on the first place with a speech of division և “Anti-government”Mr. Petro (40%) speaks “progressive” and socially beneficial “of life” և Against Poverty, while Mr. Hernandez (28%) promised to end corruption, the endemic disease of the country.
The fight was especially fierce between the two men, with a campaign consisting of all sorts of accusations, misinformation and other low blows. The latest polls, released a week ago, found the two men almost unbeaten, as traditional law, in disarray, immediately called for a vote in favor of the real estate mogul.
As in the first round, this second round was not hampered by any serious incidents, which were overseen by a group of international observer missions. The European Union (EU), which had a mission there, congratulated Mr. Petro for his voice in the voice of its High Representative, Josep Borrell. “Election of the next president of Colombia.”
Source: Le Figaro
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