Gustavo Petro gained the presidential election in Colombia on Sunday with over 50% of the vote in a runoff, defeating development magnate Rodolfo Hernandez, who has conceded. He’ll grow to be 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 widespread 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 in the present day is a brand new story for Colombia, for Latin America, for the world. We aren’t going to betray this voters,” he mentioned.
The president-elect added that he desires to succeed in throughout the aisle to work to unite the nation. “We wish Colombia, within the midst of its variety, to be one Colombia, not two Colombias.”
Colombia has been affected by a long time 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.”
Petro will assume the presidency on August 7.
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