Progressive Senator Gustavo Petro became Colombia’s first progressive president-elect since the 1930’s after a historic vote on Sunday.
According to the National Registry, Petro defeated the runner-up, the allegedly corrupt Rodolfo Hernandez, with a margin of more than 700,000 votes.
Spontaneous celebrations broke out in Medellin after it became evident that Colombia’s increasingly authoritarian President Ivan Duque will be succeeded by a progressive president.
Duque said on Twitter that he had called Petro to congratulate his successor for his victory in the elections.
The historic election results were announced after a campaign that was marred by irregularities and accusations of fraud by National Registrar Alexander Vega.
The irregularities were among the 297 election fraud reports received by the MOE until 4PM when the polls closed.
An electoral witness from Petro’s “Historic Pact” was assassinated in the southwestern Cauca province, according to the MOE. »