BOGOTA: Gustavo Petro was elected President of Colombia in the second round of elections, defeating independent contender Rodolfo Hernandez in a close battle, according to the state-run National Civil Registry.
As per reports, Petro, the candidate of the socialist Historic Pact for Colombia coalition, received 11,266,138 votes, or 50.48 percent, while Hernandez received 10,546,163 votes, or 47.26 percent, with 99.67 percent of polling stations reporting.
This is a day of "festivity," said the President-elect on Twitter. "Let us rejoice in the first populist triumph," Petro wrote.
"This triumph belongs to God, the people, and the country's history. The day of the streets and squares is today." President Ivan Duque said on Twitter that he had reached out to Petro, who will assume office on August 7, to congratulate him.
Petro, 62, is a Senator and former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia's main city.
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