Preliminary data from the National Registry indicate that, with practically one hundred percent of the votes counted, Gustavo Petro obtained 8,526,352 votes, which represent 40.32 of the total number of valid ballots.
In second place was the independent Rodolfo Hernández, with 5,952,748 votes, 28.15 percent.
Petro and Hernandez will proceed on to participate in the elections on June 19th, in accordance with the country’s legislation.
Petro is an economist from the Externado University of Colombia, specializing in Public Administration and Master of Economics from the Javeriana University, in addition to having other degrees.
He is in favor of implementing the Peace Agreement and advancing in the dialogues with armed groups such as the National Liberation Army to put an end to the internal conflicts in the country.
He also assured that, if he succeeds in these presidential elections, he would resume diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
His government program includes all social sectors of the country, especially the most historically dispossessed.
pgh/llp/jf/otf