The previous mayor of Bogota vowed to unite the nation
Gustavo Petro gained the presidential election in Colombia on Sunday with over 50% of the vote in a runoff, defeating building magnate Rodolfo Hernandez, who has conceded. He’ll change into the primary left-wing chief within the nation’s historical past.
“At this time is a day of celebration for the individuals. Allow them to have a good time the primary well-liked victory,” Petro wrote on Twitter shortly after the outcomes had been finalized. He later took the stage within the capital and thanked his supporters.
“This story that we’re writing at present is a brand new story for Colombia, for Latin America, for the world. We’re not going to betray this citizens,” he mentioned.
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The president-elect added that he desires to achieve throughout the aisle to work to unite the nation. “We wish Colombia, within the midst of its range, to be one Colombia, not two Colombias.”
Colombia has been suffering from many years of a leftist insurgency and financial troubles. Petro himself joined city guerilla group M-19 on the age of 17, however insisted later that he was an organizer, by no means a fighter, based on AFP.
Petro’s victory was hailed by different leftist leaders within the area, together with the presidents of Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Cuba, and Honduras.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Petro, saying Washington is able to work along with his authorities to construct “a extra democratic and equitable hemisphere.”
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