Presidential election in Colombia: an election under high tension, votes in calm
Polling station in Bogota, during the presidential elections, on May 29.
AFP - YURI CORTEZ
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
We vote in Colombia for the first round of the presidential election.
A vote considered historic because all the polls give the leftist candidate the lead in the first round.
This is a first for this all-time right-ruled country.
Nearly 3,000 international observers were dispatched to this tense election
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For the moment, the day is proceeding peacefully across the country.
In Bogota, the left-wing candidate Gustavo Petro, voted with his family, in his usual polling station, which is located in a popular district in the south of the city.
►Also read: Colombia: the left at the gates of power?
The security of the candidate, who travels with armored cars followed by an ambulance, has been further reinforced.
A helicopter and a drone circled in the sky above the polling station.
Heavily armed police were protecting him with bulletproof shields when he got out of his car.
This security deployment speaks to the historic poll significance and tension.
But the atmosphere in the small crowd who waited chanting "
Petro, the people are with you"
was joyful despite the rain, reports
our correspondent in Bogota,
Marie-Eve Detoeuf
.
“
There are high expectations, especially after the pandemic
”
In the historic center of Bogota, Wilson Metizo was among the first to line up to vote this Sunday morning.
For this 52-year-old teacher, Colombia is living a historic day.
“
We can choose today to continue the way the country is governed or to choose another type of government with other proposals
,” he said, questioned by
our special envoys
,
Stefanie Schüler
and
Gabriela Proenza
.
Carina Ruiz expects a high turnout.
“
There are high expectations, especially after the pandemic.
People are waiting for political and also economic changes.
It's no secret that Colombia is very polarized.
What does she expect from the new president?
“
Let him put an end to inequalities
”.
►Also read: Colombia chooses a president in a turbulent context
Omar Mendez is a painter.
He worries about the days to come.
“
I believe that the right has certainly always been in power, but that today the left will do well. Well, I hope, we'll see
, he laughs.
The country has been under tension for a long time because of the violence.
And all because the right does not want to cede power to the left.
So if the left wins, I think there's going to be a lot of conflict.
Even very strong conflicts.
The situation is quite tense.
»
Petro voters are still struggling to believe a victory is possible.
They are very afraid of electoral fraud.
During the legislative elections last March, there were major problems when the votes were counted.
The tension is high.
And it is to be hoped that tonight the results will fall quickly.
Polling stations will close at 4 p.m. local time.
The results of this first round of the Colombian presidential election are expected in the evening.
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