Colombia gets new President: Ivan Duque

Bogota, June 18: Conservative political newcomer Ivan Duque has been elected President of Colombia.

 

Duque won 54 percent of the vote. At a victory rally in the capital Bogota, he pledged to unite the country following a divisive campaign.

Duque said, he will overhaul the agreement that guaranteed the rebels seats in Congress and allowed them to contest elections.

He is first to be elected since outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos signed the peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), formally ending more than 50 years of conflict.

He said he will impose tougher punishments on crimes committed by the rebels during the brutal five-decade conflict with the government.

“I’ve come here to fulfill a dream,” Duque said outside his polling center. “For Colombia to be governed by a new generation, one that wants to govern for all and with. One that unites the country and turns the page on corruption.”

His running mate, Marta Lucía Ramirez, will become first female Vice-President of the country.

"Perhaps as time passes people will be less scared about voting for left-wing politicians," said Jorge Gallego, a professor at Colombia's Rosario University. "Although with this result, it's proven that Colombia is still a right-wing country."