Presidentelect vows to unite nation, adjust peace deal
BOGOTA: Colombia’s Presidentelect Ivan Duque, who swept aside leftist Gustavo Petro in yesterday’s election, pledged to unite the nation after a divisive campaign but insisted he would change a landmark peace accord with leftist rebels.
Duque’s decisive victory, with 54% of votes to Petro’s 42%, is likely to reassure investors who were alarmed by Petro’s promise to overturn Colombia’s orthodox economic model.
Yet Duque worried Colombians with a promise to overhaul the accord, which ended a fivedecade conflict that killed more than 220,000 people and dis placed millions. He has promised to impose tougher punishments on rebels for war crimes.
Duque called on the nation of more than 50 million people to unite behind him after a polarising campaign.
‘‘With humility and honour, I tell the Colombian people that I will give all my energies to unite our country. No more divisions,’’ he told supporters in Bogota.
‘‘I will not govern with hatred.’’
Duque (41), the businessfriendly protege of hardline former president Alvaro Uribe, will face significant challenges when he takes office in August. The economy remains weak, drug trafficking gangs have moved into areas once controlled by the Farc and more than half a million Venezuelans have crossed into Colombia, looking for food and work.
His plans to change the peace deal will face considerable opposition in Congress and from Colombia’s Constitutional Court.
He said yesterday he would make necessary ‘‘corrections’’ to it so victims’ rights received greater priority and justice and reparations were respected.
‘‘Peace is something all Colombians yearn for, and peace means that we turn the page on the fractures that have divided us into friends and enemies of peace,’’ he said.
‘‘Today, we’re all friends to build that peace and it must be a peace that, above all, allows the guerrilla base its demobilisation, its disarmament and its effective reinsertion.’’
Farc leader Rodrigo Londono congratulated Duque on Twitter, calling for reconciliation and saying he respected Colombians’ decision. — Reuters