First left-wing president takes office in independent Colombia

Janayugom Webdesk

Bogota

August 8, 2022 11:19 am

Gustavo Pedro was elected as the first left-wing president of independent Colombia. Thousands witnessed the swearing-in ceremony at Parque Tercera Milenio. Vice President Francia Marquez was also sworn in. Francia Marquez is the first black vice president. The historic pact, a left-wing coalition, ended 212 years of centre-right governments. ‘The beginning of a new democratic structure. The government will focus on peace and environmental and social justice. Will stand with social progress. The government will be the servants of the people’ – said 62-year-old Gustavo Petro in the first address. After decades of struggle, Petro became the 61st president with 50.8 percent of the vote. Anti-corruption movement leader Rudolph Hernandez, accused in a corruption case, was defeated in the June polls. The previous government, led by Ivan Duke, was ousted following allegations of breaching the 2016 peace accord and failure to implement tax reform.

According to the indigenous custom of Colombia, Vice President Francia Marquez took the stage first, followed by President Gustavo Petro. Many world leaders and representatives such as Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora participated in the event. Petro announced that he will address the people in a public ceremony to be held on Monday in the Plaza de Bolivar.

Gustavo Petro was part of the April 19 Movement (M19), an urban guerrilla group that participated in the 1974-1990 armed civil war in Colombia. Later the Democratic Alliance M19 was established. He was also elected to the House of Representatives in 1991. He was the former mayor of Bogotá. In the third round of the presidential election, he was elected as the first left-wing president in history. Graduated with Bachelors and Masters in Economics. He has a doctorate in business administration.

Gustavo Petro, who took over as the president of Colombia, said that the first goal of his government is to free the people from hunger. Nearly half of Colombia’s more than 50 million people live in poverty. He also said that there will be action for more investment in the rural sector. New Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo will propose economic measures on Monday. José Antonio Ocampo is an economist who was a professor at Columbia University. Action will be taken to dissuade farmers from growing coca leaves for the drug market and divert them to other sectors. Petro has also put forward projects such as making university education free, introducing health care systems and implementing welfare activities including pension. Although the oil industry accounts for nearly 50 percent of the country’s exports, Petro has announced that it will prevent illegal mining and ensure environmental protection.

Eng­lish sum­ma­ry; First left-wing pres­i­dent takes office in inde­pen­dent Colombia

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