Colombians go to the polls in a divisive presidential election By Reuters
© Reuters. A wall with an image of Colombian left-wing vice-presidential candidate Francia Marquez and Colombian left-wing presidential candidate Gustavo Petro is pictured a day earlier than the primary spherical of presidential elections, in Cali, Colombia on Could 28, 2022. R
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By Julia Symmes Cobb
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombians are voting Sunday to elect a brand new president from a former insurgent who guarantees beneficiant social applications, a center-right candidate who warns in opposition to a left-wing financial mannequin, and an eccentric enterprise tycoon.
Gustavo Petro, a left-leaning former mayor of Bogota and a member of the M-19 guerrilla group and present senator, is main constant polls with about 40% assist, ten factors beneath what he would wish to safe the presidency with out a second spherical in June.
The 62-year-old has attracted assist for guarantees to redistribute pensions, provide free public college and struggle deep inequality.
His greatest opponent is Federico Gutierrez, the previous center-right mayor of Medellin, who has about 25% assist.
Gutierrez has highlighted his personal plans for a primary earnings of 5 million households, financial progress of 5% per yr and extra environment friendly public spending in response to accusations that he’s an ideological successor to the unpopular President Ivan Duque.
Gutierrez, 47, has mentioned Petro is a risk to democracy and warned that left-wing financial plans, together with a ban on new oil and fuel initiatives, will destroy Colombia’s economic system.
Vote quantity three within the six-way race is development magnate and former Bucaramanga mayor Rodolfo Hernandez, with about 20% assist.
Hernandez, who drives independently, is thought for whimsical movies on social media, together with of him using an electrical scooter, promising anti-corruption. The 77-year-old himself is dealing with an ongoing investigation into whether or not he interfered in a young in favor of an organization that his son lobbied for. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The nation’s secretary of state has mentioned there is no such thing as a risk of electoral fraud after candidates repeatedly expressed concern about irregularities throughout the parliamentary elections in March, which electoral officers categorised as procedural errors.
Polls open at 8.00 native time and closes at. 16.00 (2100 GMT). Officers have mentioned they anticipate outcomes about 4 hours later.