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Will Colombia's new president turn to political traditions?

author:Xinhua

Beijing, 21 Jun (Xinhua) -- On the evening of 19 June, colombia's electoral body announced the preliminary vote count results for the second round of voting in the presidential election, and Gustavo Petro, a candidate of the left-wing campaign alliance "Colombian Historical Convention Alliance," defeated the independent real estate tycoon Rudolf Hernandez and will become the next president of this South American country.

The final vote count will not be announced until a few days later, but the general trend is already determined, and Colombian politics presents a harmonious atmosphere. Hernandez soon conceded defeat and congratulated Petro; The main figures of the opposing camp, including the current and former presidents, also congratulated Petro.

Will Colombia's new president turn to political traditions?

On June 19, Gustavo Petro, a candidate for the Left-Wing Campaign Alliance for the Convention of Colombian History, and his running mate, Francia Márquez, celebrated their election victory in bogotá, Colombia. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Paz)

From guerrillas to economic experts

The United States and other Western countries are most concerned about the election results, Petro participated in the Colombian left-wing guerrilla M-19 ("April 19 Movement"), and his election means that another left-wing regime has emerged in Latin America, which the United States regards as a "backyard", especially Colombia has always had close relations with the United States, and the political arena has long been dominated by center-right parties, which is more conspicuous.

In addition to venezuela and Cuba, where the left has been in power for a long time, Chile, Peru and Honduras elected left-wing presidents last year in Latin America; Former President Lula da Silva, founder of Brazil's Labor Party, is leading the polls for this year's presidential elections. The presidents of Mexico, Chile and Peru have all publicly congratulated and supported Petro.

Petro, 62, holds a master's degree in economics and is now a senator who joined the April 19 Movement, which was active in Colombia in the 1970s and 1980s. The rebel group later formed a political party, signed a peace agreement with the government in 1990, laid down its arms, and its influence gradually withered, but many of its former members became political activists, including Petro.

This is Petro's third presidential campaign. Last time was in 2018, when the first round of voting came in second, the second round was lost to incumbent President Ivan Duke.

Will Colombia's new president turn to political traditions?

On June 19, Gustavo Petro (third from left), a candidate for the Left-Wing Campaign Alliance for the Convention of Colombian History, and his running partner, Francia Márquez (fourth from left), celebrate their election victory in Bogotá, Colombia. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Paz)

In the second round of voting, more than 99.9% of the votes have been counted, with Petro receiving 50.48% and opponent Hernandez 47.26%. Both men were less than halfway through the first round of voting and passed the second round to decide the winner.

Petro extended an olive branch to political opponents, saying that after taking office, he would welcome any opposition party member to the presidential palace to "discuss the problems facing Colombia" and said he would listen to the voices of different social groups, including "farmers, indigenous people, women, young people and other silent majorities"

If nothing else, Petro will take office in August. Duke said on the 19th that he had called to congratulate Petro and would soon meet with the other party and start a harmonious and transparent power transition process.

Duke's ruling Democratic Center Party was founded by former President Alvaro Uribe, who ruled for eight consecutive years and remains influential in politics since leaving office in 2010. Uribe lashed out at Petro but congratulated Petro after the preliminary election results were announced.

Will Colombia's new president turn to political traditions?

Colombian President Duke attends an event at the World Economic Forum's 2022 Annual Meeting on May 24 in Davos, Switzerland. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Huansong

Voters seek change and there are many difficulties

Petro campaigned on promises to crack down on corruption, overhaul social security to benefit low-income earners, and raise taxes on the rich and big business. However, the Associated Press quoted an analysis by a US think tank that because the "Colombian Historical Convention Alliance" does not hold a majority of seats in both houses of Congress, it is not easy for Petro to promote reform, and he is afraid that he will have to make many compromises to another dozen or so parties with seats.

He also promised to negotiate peace with the Largest rebel in Colombia, the National Liberation Army, after coming to power; Changing the tactics of previous governments to combat drug trafficking gangs and related violence.

Colombia, which has nearly 40% of the poor population, is hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and boosting the economy will be another major challenge for the new government. According to the Associated Press, factors such as the widening gap between rich and poor, rising prices and frequent violence in recent years have led most voters to turn their backs on traditional mainstream parties in the first round of voting on May 29, favoring two relatively "out-of-the-circle" figures, hoping that the country will usher in a transformation.

Will Colombia's new president turn to political traditions?

Workers carry green coffee beans at the Gordjieff Plant in Medellín, colombia's capital of Antioquia, on October 27, 2021. Xinhua News Agency

Whether Petro can bring about major changes remains to be seen, but one change is certain: his running mate, Francia Max, 40, will become Colombia's first african-American female vice president.

Located in the north of South America, Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America. Historically inhabited by Indians, Colombia became a Spanish colony in the 16th century and first declared its independence on July 20, 1810. After that, Colombia experienced colonial repression and civil war until the complete end of Spanish colonial rule in 1819. After years of political turmoil, the country was renamed the Republic of Colombia in 1886.

Under Colombia's 2015 constitution, the President is the head of state and head of government, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and is directly elected for a four-year term and cannot be re-elected. (Shen Min)

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