Colombians turn out in force to vote in a new president

[Judi Lynn]

All polls point to a close call: Colombians are being asked to decide who will be the next president - Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter, or Rodolfo Hernandez, a wealthy businessman who defines himself as an outsider.

All polls point to a close call: Colombians are being asked to decide who will be the next president - Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter, or Rodolfo Hernandez, a wealthy businessman who defines himself as an outsider.

Watch video Duration 02:16 mins.
Date 19.06.2022

https://www.dw.com/en/colombians-turn-out-in-force-to-vote-in-a-new-president/av-62185185

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bloomberg News:Colombia Election Puts Economic Model, US Relations at Stake

Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernandez are facing off in Colombia’s runoff presidential election.

ByMatthew Bristow

June 19, 2022, 7:00 AM CDTUpdated onJune 19, 2022, 4:00 PM CDT

Colombians voted Sunday in a presidential election to choose between an ex-guerrilla who wants to transform their business-friendly economic model, and a construction magnate who is under investigation for corruption.

Leftist Gustavo Petro, 62, a former mayor of Bogota, wants to raise taxes on the rich, halt oil exploration and protect local industry and agriculture with tariffs.

Rodolfo Hernandez, 77, was until recently little known outside the provincial city of which he was mayor, but attracted millions of supporters with his attacks on crooked and wasteful politicians, often using social media. His economic policy program is thin on detail.

Polls closed at 4 p.m., with first results expected early Sunday evening. Earlier in the day, Hernandez cast his vote in the city of Bucaramanga, in eastern Colombia, while Petro first visited one of the country’s best-known Catholic shrines in Bogota to pray.

More:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-19/economic-model-and-us-relations-at-stake-in-colombia-s-election