Sharjah24 – Reuters: Colombian leftist Gustavo Petro came out on top in the first round of the Andean country's presidential election on Sunday and will face a surprise contender - businessman Rodolfo Hernandez - in a second round on June 19.
Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement who has vowed profound economic and social change, had 40.3% of votes, national registry office tallies showed, with 99.9% of ballot boxes counted.
Hernandez, the septuagenarian former mayor of Bucaramanga, who has promised to fight corruption even though he is under investigation for graft, won 28.2%.
Surveys ahead of the first round showed Hernandez - who now has the support of third place candidate Federico Gutierrez and likely many of his supporters - would lag just a few points behind Petro in a run-off vote.
Petro, a 62-year-old former mayor of Bogota, has consistently led opinion polls on promises to redistribute pensions, offer free public university and begin to change what he says are centuries of profound inequality. Read full story
"What's not in doubt today is change," Petro told cheering supporters in central Bogota. "Now it's about seeing what we will do with Colombia, what Colombian society wants for it's own country."
"Corruption isn't fought with slogans on TikTok," Petro added, a jab at Hernandez's popularity on the social media app.
Petro has promised to fully implement a 2016 peace deal with the FARC rebels and seek peace talks with the still-active ELN rebels, as well as halt all new oil and gas development.
Youth are a major demographic for Petro, who had about 50% support in opinion polls from the country's youngest voters.
His campaign ramped up efforts to encourage youth turn-out in the last few days, acknowledging that young people may need an extra push to vote over a holiday weekend.
Petro has rejected oft-repeated accusations he will mimic the policies of deceased former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his successor Nicolas Maduro.
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