The former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement marginally defeated real estate millionaire Rodolfo Hernandez, promising to bring about a profound social and economic change. Mr Petros, the former mayor of Bogota and now a senator, has vowed to fight inequality with free university education, pension reforms and high taxes on unproductive land. He won 50.4% of the vote compared to Mr Hernandez’s 47.3% with almost all ballots counted, according to election results. Mr Hernandez had promised to shrink the government and fund social programs by stopping corruption. Mr Petro’s candidate’s partner, Francia Márquez, became the first black woman to be elected vice president in the country. The 40-year-old is an unmarried mother, former housekeeper and lawyer whose opposition to illegal mining led to threats and a grenade attack in 2019. The election took place amid rising inequality, inflation and violence – factors that led voters in the first round last month to punish center-right and right-wing politicians and select two foreigners for the second round. More than 42% of the country’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Thousands celebrate in the streets Mr Peter’s victory marks the end of left-wing stigma in Latin America, the third most populous country in the world due to perceived links to Colombia’s half-century-old armed conflict. The 62-year-old was once a rebel of the now inactive M-19 movement and was granted amnesty after being jailed for joining the group. He said he was tortured during his imprisonment. Mr Petro’s victory has preoccupied some investors with policies that include banning new petroleum products – although he has pledged to abide by existing conventions. “From today Colombia is changing; Colombia is different,” Mr Petros told cheering supporters at a concert stage in Bogota. “The change is precisely to leave sectarianism behind.” Read more: Why are so many environmental activists being killed in Colombia? Thousands of people were seen celebrating in the city streets, with some dancing near its largest polling station in sporadic rain. Mr Peter’s triumph, which follows two failed attempts at the presidency, adds Colombia to a list of Latin American countries that have elected progressives in recent years.
