##COLOMBIA: Former Marxist Guerrilla Elected President

[world politics news]

When he takes office on August 7th Gustavo Petro will become the country’s first left-wing president. He offers a radical departure from two decades of right-wing and center-right rulers. Petro’s running-mate, Francia Márquez, a 40-year-old environmental activist, will become the country’s first black vice-president.

Petro won by 50.4% to 47.3%, a wider than expected margin, in a run-off against Rodolfo Hernández, a property tycoon. His 11.3m votes, helped by a record turnout of 58%, mark the highest tally in Colombia’s electoral history. Petro is a former mayor of Bogotá and once belonged to m19, a leftist guerrilla group.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#COLOMBIA: Runoff For Presidential Election Between Leftist And Populist

[world politics news]

Leftist senator Gustavo Petro and right-wing populist businessman Rodolfo Hernández will face off in Colombia's presidential runoff next month.

The success of the two anti-establishment candidates is a major blow to Colombia's political class, say political observers.

Petro led with just over 40% of the vote late Sunday, while Hernández was in second with about 28%. A candidate needed more than 50% to avoid a runoff.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#COLOMBIA: Florida Gov.DeSantis Condemns Biden's Dropping FARC Terror Group From US Terror List

[world politics news]

 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted President Biden over his administration’s decision to remove the Colombian rebel group FARC from its list of foreign terrorist organizations. 

"Joe Biden's decision to legitimize the Marxist terror group FARC paves the way for Castrochavismo in Colombia and is a slap in the face to Colombian-Americans," the Florida Republican tweeted Wednesday.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#COLOMBIA: Former Congressman Denies Receiving $1 Million Bribe From Brazilian Firm

[world politics news]

A former Colombian congressman detained on accusations that he received millions in bribes from Brazilian engineering firm Odebrecht SA denied on Tuesday that a $1 million portion of the money was given to President Juan Manuel Santos’ 2014 campaign. Senator Otto Bula also flatly denies the charges. A commission investigating bribery also suspects Pres. Santos' opponent of receiving bribes from the firm.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos 

#COLOMBIA: Voters Narrowly Reject Peace Deal With FARC Rebels

[world politics news]

Voters have narrowly rejected a peace deal between the government and the Marxist group, FARC. The deal would have ended 52 years of war and allowed FARC fighters to re-enter society and form a political party. But 50.2% opposed the deal while 49.8% favored it. Some attribute the result to Pres. Juan Manuel Santos' unpopularity. He championed the Yes vote. Many "No" voters wanted the rebels to face harsher punishment.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#COLOMBIA: Frmr. Pres. Uribe's Sons Implicated In #PanamaPapers Scandal

[world politics news]

The two sons of Colombia’s former President Alvaro Uribe, Tomas and Jeronimo Uribe Moreno, are mentioned in the latest Panama Papers disclosure. In the database revealing details of more than 200,000 offshore companies, both Uribe brothers Tomas and Jeronimo appear as shareholders of the Asia America Investment Corporation registered and associated with an address in the British Virgin Islands, a country included on a widely known list of tax havens worldwide.

#COLOMBIA: Christian Activist Fighting Installation Of Condom Dispensers Across Bogota

[world politics news]

Colombia’s capital city of Bogota is set to install condom dispensers in public areas in spit of long resistance from local Christian activists who had called for “more values, less condoms.”

#COLOMBIA Santos Re-Elected Pres. in Sunday Poll; Pledges Renewed Peace Talks

[world politics news]

#COLOMBIA: Pres. Election Could Determine Fate of Peace Talks With Rebels

[world politics news]

Right-wing presidential contender Óscar Iván Zuluaga has questioned the slow pace of peace talks, accusing incumbent Juan Miguel Santos of selling out to the insurgency just as it's finally on the ropes.

#COLOMBIA

Pres. Santos Mobilizes Troops After Violent Farmer Protests in Bogota [world politics news]

COLOMBIA

Gov't, FARC Rebels, Nearing Deal to End 5-Decade War Says Rebel Negotiator [world politics news]

COLOMBIA: 2nd Woman Ever, Deputy Finance Minister, Named to Bank Board [world politics news]

Ana Fernanda Maiguashca, second woman to serve on Colombia's central bank policy committee.