Gustavo Petro’s election in Colombia had repercussions in Latin America. Heads of State from different countries recognized and even congratulated the victory this Sunday (19) of the candidate of the left-wing party, Pacto Histórico. His opponent at the polls, independent populist candidate Rodolfo Hernández, also conceded defeat. President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) has yet to comment on the result.
Hernández said he hoped the winner, leftist Gustavo Petro, would know how to lead the country. “I sincerely hope that this decision they have taken will be beneficial for everyone and that Colombia will move towards the change that prevailed in the first round vote. I wish Dr. Gustavo Petro to know how to lead the country, to be firm in his speech against corruption and not defrauds those who trusted him,” he said in a short video message posted on Facebook.
The current Colombian president, Iván Duque, was one of the heads of state who congratulated the president-elect. “I called Gustavo Petro to congratulate him as president-elect of Colombia. We agreed to meet in the next few days to start a smooth, institutional and transparent transition,” he said on Twitter.
Duque defeated Petro four years ago in the second round of presidential elections. The president-elect became leader of the opposition to his government and paved the way for the victory that will allow him to govern until 2026. On several occasions, Duque asked Petro to accept the results of the polls and to the other contestants to trust the electoral authorities, in response. to complaints by the Pacto Histórico party about alleged electoral fraud.
This morning, when voting in Bogotá, Duque also asked voters to have “trust in the institutions” and “full confidence in the verdict of the Colombian people.” On the occasion, the still president also promised a “peaceful, orderly and institutional transition in presidential command”. “We can already say to the elected today that he will have our full support to start the presidential transition process”, said Duque after voting in the National Capitol.
What the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru said
Gustavo Petro’s election marks the first victory for a leftist in command of Colombia. Other leftist presidents also congratulated him, such as the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández. The Argentine considers that the result “validates democracy”.
On his Twitter account, Fernández said that the victory “fills him with joy” and conveyed his congratulations “for the trust that the Colombian people have placed in him”. “His victory validates democracy and guarantees the path to an integrated Latin America, at a time that demands maximum solidarity between fraternal peoples”, he declared.
Bolivian President Luis Arce, also from the left, congratulated Petro and his running mate, Francia Márquez, and stressed that with their victory in Colombia’s presidential elections, “Latin American integration is strengthened.”
“Congratulations to the Colombian people! Our congratulations to brother Gustavo Petro and sister Francia Márquez for their victory today at the polls,” he said on Twitter. Arce stated that, with Petro and Márquez, “Latin American integration is strengthened. “We join the celebration of the Colombians,” he added.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales also joined in the congratulations to Petro and Márquez, whom he highlighted as the first Afro-descendant vice president in the history of Colombia. “We congratulate the people of Colombia, brother Gustavo Petro, the newly elected president, and sister Francia Márquez, the first vice president of African descent in the history of that country for her undisputed victory at the polls. It is the victory of peace, truth and dignity”, he highlighted on social media.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric, also a leftist, called Petro’s victory a “joy for Latin America” shortly after calling him to convey his congratulations. “We will work together for the unity of our continent in the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We move forward!” he wrote on Twitter.
Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, another leftist, congratulated Petro on his historic democratic victory” in the presidential elections. “I just called Petro to congratulate him on his historic democratic victory in Colombia. We are united by a common feeling that seeks collective, social and regional integration improvements for our peoples. Brother Gustavo, always count on Peru’s support,” he wrote on Twitter.
Cuba and Venezuela also congratulate Gustavo Petro’s victory
Gustavo Petro’s victory was also recognized in Cuba and Venezuela. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel congratulated the Colombian President-elect “I express my most fraternal congratulations to Gustavo Petro for his election as President of Colombia in a historic popular victory,” he said on Twitter.
Díaz-Canel also expressed in his message to Petro the “willingness to advance in the development of bilateral relations for the well-being of our peoples”. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also reacted on Twitter with “warm congratulations” to the winning candidate in the second round of the Colombian presidential elections.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also recognized the Colombian’s victory. “I congratulate Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez for the historic victory in the presidential elections in Colombia. The will of the Colombian people was heard, who came out to defend the path of democracy and peace. New times are in sight for this brother country”, he commented in the Twitter.
Likewise, Chavismo’s number two, Diosdado Cabello, expressed his best wishes to Petro and wished him “the greatest success”. “I would like to be brief, but the victories of the people give me great and immense joy. Colombia voted for a change, we wish President Petro and Vice President Márquez every success. To the Colombian people: a Bolivarian hug,” he said. the deputy on the social network.
With information from the EFE Agency
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