Ex-rebel wins tight runoff, will be 1st leftist president
BOGOTA, Colombia — Former rebel Gustavo Petro narrowly won a runoff election over a political outsider millionaire Sunday, ushering in a new era of politics for Colombia by becoming the country’s first leftist president.
Petro, a senator in his third attempt to win the presidency, had 50.48% of the votes, while real estate magnate Rodolfo Hernandez had 47.26%, with almost all ballots counted, according to results released by election authorities.
Petro will be officially declared winner after a formal count that will take several days. Historically, preliminary results have proved accurate.
Petro’s victory underlined a drastic change in presidential politics for a country that has long marginalized the left for its perceived association with armed conflict.
“Today is a day of celebration for the people. Let them celebrate the first popular victory,” Petro tweeted.
Outgoing conservative President Ivan Duque congratulated Petro shortly after results were announced, and Hernandez quickly conceded his defeat.
“I accept the result, as it should be, if we want our institutions to be firm,” Hernandez said in a video on social media. “I sincerely hope that this decision is beneficial for everyone.”
Polls ahead of the runoff had indicated Petro and Hernandez were in a tight race after they topped four other candidates in the initial May 29 election. Neither got enough votes to win outright, so they headed into the runoff.
The vote came amid widespread discontent over rising inequality, inflation and violence — factors that led voters in the first round to turn their backs on the long-governing centrist and right-leaning politicians and choose two outsiders in Latin America’s thirdmost populated nation.
Petro, 62, was once a rebel with the now-defunct M-19 movement and was granted amnesty after being jailed for his involvement with the group. He has proposed ambitious pension, tax, health and agricultural reforms and changes to how Colombia fights drug cartels and other armed groups.
Petro’s showing was the latest leftist victory in Latin America fueled by voters’ desire for change. Chile, Peru and Honduras elected leftist presidents in 2021, and in Brazil, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is leading the polls for this year’s presidential election.
Hernandez is not affiliated with any major political party and rejected alliances. His proposals were based on a fight against corruption, which he blames for poverty and the loss of state resources that could be used to boost social programs.