Sri Lanka has a new president: Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been prime minister six times, elected by parliament – Le Monde

Ranil Wickremesinghe, acting president of Sri Lanka, in Colombo, June 11, 2022. ERANGA JAYAWARDENA / AP Ranil Wickremesinghe, acting president of Sri Lanka, was elected on Wednesday, July 20, president by an overwhelming majority by Parliament to succeed to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned last week after fleeing his bankrupt country. Six-time Prime Minister Wickremesinghe won 134 votes, according to official results, against 82 for his main opponent Dullas Alahapperuma and just three for left-wing candidate Anura Dissanayake. “Ranil Wickremesinghe has been elected as the eighth executive president under the Constitution,” the secretary general of parliament said after the count was completed. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers In Sri Lanka, after the flight of the president, the fear of chaos “Our divisions are over” Protesters calling for the resignation of Ranil Wickremesinghe, newly appointed president of Sri Lanka, on July 19 in Colombo. RAFIQ MAQBOOL / AP “Our divisions are now over,” said Mr. Wickremesinghe just after being elected, in a speech to Parliament. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s victory, which many Sri Lankans oppose, could lead to further protests against the ruling elite, after months of severe shortages of fuel, food and medicine, several protesters said. His main rival, Dullas Alahapperuma, a member of the ruling party, was better liked by protesters and the opposition, but he had no experience of high governance, in a country that has almost no dollars for imports. and which desperately needs a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The World with AFP