Colombia, Gustavo Petro president: first leftist in country history

Former guerrilla Gustavo Petro won the Colombian elections and became the first left-wing president. Former M-19 militia fighter beat populist business tycoon and political outsider Rodolfo Hernández, former mayor of Bucaramanga, yesterday in the ballot. ” It is undoubtedly a historic day. We are writing history right now. A new story for Colombia, for Latin America and for the world, said Petro after the victory, speaking of “people’s festival”. And on Twitter he wrote: “May so much suffering be softened by the joy that today floods the heart of the country”. After obtaining 50.47% of the votes in the ballot against 47.27% of the challenger, Petro will take office in July. In his victory speech he called for unity, saying that all members of the opposition will be welcomed to the presidential palace “to discuss the problems of Colombia”. “From this emerging government there will never be political or legal persecution, there will only be respect and dialogue”, he said, adding that he will listen not only to those who have raised their weapons but also “that silent majority of peasants, natives, women , young”.