Gustavo Petro, presidential candidate for the Historical Pact, won the elections in the second presidential round this Sunday in Colombia. Petro and his vice-presidential formula, Francia Márquez, reached more than 50% of the votes with 99.86% of the tables counted. The largest electoral turnout in Colombia in history.
Petro felt more comfortable during the campaign with humble people and touring what he calls the most authentic Colombia. The polling stations were full of black voters like never before. “Today is a holiday for the people. Let them celebrate the first popular victory. May so many sufferings be cushioned in the joy that today floods the heart of the Homeland. This victory is for God and for the People and their history. Today is the day of the streets and squares” – Petro Tweeted
Francia Marquez
“I didn’t ask to be in politics. But politics messed with me and now we’re messing with it. You were not paid to be there, you came because you wanted to. Here you have your daughter and here you have your vice president.”
Francia Márquez has broken all the schemes of power in Colombia. Today she is close to being the first black woman vice president. Not only that, a left-wing Afro woman in a country where the left has never governed. A position that she won by herself when in March she was the third most voted candidate in the primaries of all the coalitions that are running for election with almost 800,000 votes. The result forced Gustavo Petro, the candidate with the most options to be the next president, to put her as number two. It is not a secret that those were not his plans.Even though their relationships have never been an easy one, here they are.
Her figure in politics generated a wave of criticism. In a deeply centralist country like Colombia, coming to power from outside Bogotá is difficult. Most of his critics point out her “poor preparation”, a few others, the loudest, stir up racism. Still she is one of the most liked personalities of this 2022 campaign.
The defeated candidate, Rodolfo Hernández, representative of a right wing disenchanted with Uribismo, thanked his electorate in a brief message posted on his social networks, where he acknowledged Petro’s victory. “Most of the citizens who voted have done so by choosing the other candidate.” Hernandez confirmed that he “accepts the result,” and I also wish the new president success. “I wish Dr. Gustavo Petro that he knows how to lead the country, that he is faithful to his speech against corruption and that he does not disappoint those who trusted him.”
Petro, affirmed this Tuesday that he does not think it prudent that the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, attend his investiture, which will take place on August 7 in Bogotá. This could mean a proactive policy by the new government away from the corruption of Bolivarianism regardless of its leftist position.
“The Colombia we dream of is just around the corner. We just need to go look for it.” – Gustavo Petro