Gustavo Petro beat Rodolfo Hernandez with an unexpectedly large margin of some 7,16,890 votes
Gustavo Petro beat Rodolfo Hernandez with an unexpectedly large margin of some 7,16,890 votes
Leftist Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla motion who has vowed profound social and financial change, received Colombia’s Presidency on Sunday, the primary progressive to take action within the nation’s historical past.
Mr. Petro beat building magnate Rodolfo Hernandez with an unexpectedly large margin of some 7,16,890 votes. The two had been technically tied in polling forward of the vote.
Mr. Petro, a former Mayor of capital Bogota and present Senator, has pledged to struggle inequality with free college schooling, pension reforms and excessive taxes on unproductive land. He received 50.5% to Hernandez’s 47.3%.
Petro’s proposals – particularly a ban on new oil tasks – have startled some buyers, although he has promised to respect present contracts.
Supporter Alejandro Forero, 40, who makes use of a wheelchair, cried as outcomes rolled in on the Petro marketing campaign celebration in Bogota.
“Finally, thank God. I know he will be a good President and he will help those of us who are least privileged. This is going to change for the better,” mentioned Mr. Forero, who’s unemployed.
This marketing campaign was Mr. Petro’s third Presidential bid and his victory provides the Andean nation to a listing of Latin American international locations which have elected progressives lately.
Mr. Petro, 62, mentioned he was tortured by the navy when he was detained for his involvement with the guerrillas, and his potential victory has high-ranking armed forces officers bracing for change.
Mr. Petro’s working mate Francia Marquez, a single mom and former housekeeper, would be the nation’s first Afro-Colombian girl Vice-President.
Confetti explode on the election night time headquarters of Presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, left, and his working mate Francia Marquez in Bogota, Colombia.
| Photo Credit: AP
“Today I’m voting for my daughter – she turned 15 two weeks ago and asked for just one gift: that I vote for Petro,” mentioned safety guard Pedro Vargas, 48, in Bogota’s southwest on Sunday morning.
“I hope this man fulfills the hopes of my daughter, she has a lot of faith in his promises,” added Mr. Vargas, who mentioned he by no means votes.
Mr. Petro has additionally pledged to completely implement a 2016 peace cope with FARC rebels and search talks with the still-active ELN guerrillas.
He had raised doubts concerning the integrity of the depend after irregularities in congressional tallies in March, and earlier on Sunday urged voters to test their ballots for any extraneous marks which may invalidate them.
Rodolfo Hernandez, a shock contender
Mr. Hernandez, who served as Mayor of Bucaramanga, was a shock contender within the run-off and has promised to shrink authorities and to finance social applications by stopping corruption.
He has additionally pledged to supply free narcotics to addicts in an effort to fight drug trafficking.
Despite his anti-graft rhetoric, Hernandez is below a corruption investigation himself over allegations he intervened in a trash administration tender to profit an organization his son lobbied for. He has denied wrongdoing.
Defence Minister Diego Molano advised journalists on Sunday afternoon that the killing of an electoral volunteer in Guapi, Cauca province, was below investigation.
Sixty voting areas needed to be moved due to heavy rains in some components of the nation, the registrar mentioned.
Source: www.thehindu.com
